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

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<str<strong>on</strong>g>NATO</str<strong>on</strong>g> policymakers. How can a broader policy approach<br />

for both <str<strong>on</strong>g>NATO</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> the United States be crafted<br />

that addresses the linkage between NSNWs <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />

c<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>al weap<strong>on</strong>s? It is interesting to note in this<br />

regard that the Alliance’s New <strong>Strategic</strong> C<strong>on</strong>cept also<br />

seeks to “strengthen the c<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>al arms c<strong>on</strong>trol<br />

regime in Europe.” 12 Therefore, can progress in c<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>al<br />

arms c<strong>on</strong>trol possibly be linked to proposed<br />

efforts to reduce NSNWs, all as part of a broader effort<br />

to stabilize the overall security situati<strong>on</strong> am<strong>on</strong>g the<br />

United States, Europe, <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> Russia? And with this in<br />

mind, what is now the status of the CFE Treaty as the<br />

largest <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> most ambitious c<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>al agreement<br />

ever signed?<br />

The linkage between nuclear <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>al<br />

forces had always been clear to Western <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> Russian<br />

strategists. Although nuclear weap<strong>on</strong>s took pride of<br />

place in arms negotiati<strong>on</strong>s, talks <strong>on</strong> both strategic<br />

nuclear as well as c<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>al arms c<strong>on</strong>trol negotiati<strong>on</strong>s<br />

have always sought to reduce the possibility<br />

of c<strong>on</strong>flict at any level that might escalate to a major<br />

nuclear exchange. As a result, both sides made adjustments<br />

to their respective nuclear <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>al<br />

forces, either to account for changes by the other or to<br />

compensate for perceived inferiorities. Still, throughout<br />

the Cold War (<str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> even in its aftermath) negotiati<strong>on</strong>s<br />

over nuclear <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>al weap<strong>on</strong>s were<br />

c<strong>on</strong>ducted in separate forums. This approach was to<br />

some degree due to do the vast size of the respective<br />

c<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>al <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> nuclear stockpiles. Now in the aftermath<br />

of New START, with the changing security<br />

envir<strong>on</strong>ment <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> the drawdown in c<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>al forces,<br />

neither side may enjoy the “luxury” of examining<br />

these issues separately. Thus, success in finding a way<br />

to negotiate with Moscow about NSNWs may depend<br />

482

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