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

CHAPTER 18
TACTICAL NUCLEAR WEAPONS AND <strong>NATO</strong>:
ARMS CONTROL AS AN OPTION
James M. Smith
U.S. tactical nuclear weapons were introduced into
Europe based primarily on their military utility but
with the strong secondary purpose of ensuring alliance
solidarity. They were introduced in the theater
under the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (<strong>NATO</strong>)
umbrella, with an equally strong burden-sharing role.
Today, the military utility is legitimately questioned,
their burden-sharing dimension is indeed a burden on
economically challenged Alliance members, <strong>and</strong> only
the political role remains strong <strong>and</strong> central. U.S. nuclear
weapons remain in <strong>NATO</strong> for the political purposes
of general assurance <strong>and</strong> <strong>NATO</strong> solidarity, <strong>and</strong>
to give continued relevance to <strong>NATO</strong> nuclear policy
as long as the members impute a nuclear dimension
to the Alliance.
As these weapons have transitioned to primarily
political roles, arms control has presented itself as a
political answer to questions of how to manage further
nuclear drawdowns <strong>and</strong> the possibility of eventual
complete removal of the American weapons from
the theater. Arms control is an established political
process between Russia—with a substantial remaining
strategic <strong>and</strong> tactical nuclear arsenal found particularly
worrisome to the newer alliance members—
<strong>and</strong> the United States, which has always undertaken
its side of the bilateral negotiations with a keen eye to
<strong>NATO</strong> positions <strong>and</strong> sensitivities. It is a process that,
with thoughtful adaptation, offers significant prom-
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