Tactical Nuclear Weapons and NATO.pdf - Program on Strategic ...

nuclear-sharing program. This is viewed as a symbol
of transatlantic burden-sharing. 28 On the other h<strong>and</strong>,
Turkey is endeavoring to defuse conflicts in the Middle
East <strong>and</strong> establish itself in the region as mediator
between Western <strong>and</strong> Islamic states.
The New Strategic Concept, adopted at the Lisbon,
Portugal, Summit in November 2010, states that “deterrence,
based on an appropriate mix of nuclear <strong>and</strong>
conventional capabilities, remains a core element
of [<strong>NATO</strong>’s] overall strategy.” The leaders of the 28
<strong>NATO</strong> members have also agreed to conduct a Deterrence
<strong>and</strong> Defense Posture Review (DDPR) covering the
right balance between nuclear <strong>and</strong> conventional forces
as well as missile defense in <strong>NATO</strong>’s future defense
posture. The consultation phase of the DDPR has already
ended, <strong>and</strong> <strong>NATO</strong> members are now engaged
in drafting a report which will be adopted at the May
20, 2012, summit in Chicago. 29
The DDPR is necessary because the future role of
nuclear weapons in <strong>NATO</strong> was not specified in the
New Strategic Concept. The document merely states
that “the circumstances in which any use of TNWs
might have to be contemplated are extremely remote.”
Moreover, the U.S. NPR is not in line with the <strong>NATO</strong>
nuclear policy. The U.S. NPR renounces the threat
or the use of nuclear weapons against non-nuclear
weapon states that are parties to the NPT <strong>and</strong> are in
compliance with their nonproliferation obligations.
Furthermore, the procurement of new DCA in Europe
<strong>and</strong> the delivery aircraft life-extension program in
the United States are looming on the horizon. In Germany,
Belgium, <strong>and</strong> the Netherl<strong>and</strong>s, there would be
no public support for acquiring new delivery systems
such as fighter aircraft capable of nuclear missions.
While some members (Norway <strong>and</strong> Germany) want to
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