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

By the same token, an NSNW regime is unlikely
to play a significant role here, unless by the indirect
route of stationing in these areas forces or facilities
whose own security needs may increase the urgency
of resolving regional tensions (e.g., the Gabala radar
array in Azerbaijan as a potential component of a cooperative
missile defense system).
Role of Alliances.
How do alliance relationships affect treaty participation?
The CFE Treaty very carefully <strong>and</strong> purposefully
reiterates the rights of the parties “to be or not to be”
members of alliances. Obviously this has not kept
<strong>NATO</strong> from being judged by its collective holdings
as a source of security concerns (or reassurances) by
those still determined to seek a “balance” of European
forces. Indeed, the slowness of <strong>NATO</strong> to undertake
major reductions in its collective CFE equipment ceilings
was a prominent reason offered by the Russians
as motivating their “suspension” of Treaty participation.
As noted earlier, this perspective seems even more
prominent in the NSNW dialogue, which seldom escapes
a <strong>NATO</strong>/Russia orientation. Refocusing threat
assumptions to follow contemporary theater missile
defense scenarios seems, once again, the appropriate
<strong>and</strong> consistent course correction.
The “Reset.”
How can arms control promote Russia dialogue <strong>and</strong>
integration? Its troubles notwithst<strong>and</strong>ing, CFE, not to
mention VDoc <strong>and</strong> Open Skies, has provided a regular
<strong>and</strong> intensive venue for dialogue <strong>and</strong> discussion of
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