U.S. National Missile Defense (NMD) and European Security

Authors: Marc R. Bertucchi; ARMY WAR COLL CARLISLE BARRACKS PA

Abstract:

The debate over whether or not the U.S. should deploy an NMD system designed to protect all fifty states against limited attack by ballistic missiles is presently raging in both the United States and Europe. An NMD deployment as currently envisioned by the U.S. government is a real concern for European Nations for a number of reasons. These include concern that they have not been appropriately consulted with, or involved in, U.S. NMD decisions, concern that U.S. NMD deployment could upset worldwide strategic stability by encouraging an arms race that might negate European nuclear deterrent forces, and concern that NMD might undermine the traditional NATO concept of shared defense responsibility and hence lead to a weakening of important U.S.- European defense ties. Yet, the U.S. government's NMD concept, by better protecting the USA, may actually strengthen its foreign policy and provide more freedom of action thus arguably benefiting both the U.S. and her allies. So, the question becomes should the European Nations fear this concept or, on the contrary, should it make them more comfortable? This paper will examine this very complicated issue in detail.

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APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE