Final Communiqué
Chairman: Manfred Wörner
- English
- French
<p>Transformation of the Alliance - Rome Summit documents - Decisions on implementation of the Strategic Concept - Role of Defence Ministers in developing partnerships with countries of Central and Eastern Europe - NATO's experience and expertise in defe
- The Defence Planning Committee of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization met in Ministerial session in Brussels on 12th and 13th December, 1991.
- Over the eighteen months that have passed since the London Declaration the Alliance has undergone a far-reaching transformation. In response to the profound changes in the security environment, at their meeting last month in Rome the Alliance's Heads of State and Government approved a new Strategic Concept and issued a Declaration on Peace and Co-operation. This transformation clearly demonstrates NATO's ability to respond to the dramatic changes that the Alliance itself helped to bring about. At our meeting we took a number of important decisions on the implementation of the Strategic Concept, new arrangements for force and command structures, and reinforcement.
- The Rome Declaration included proposals for advancing our partnership with countries of Central and Eastern Europe, including Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania whose newly regained independence we warmly welcome. On the basis of these proposals, and consistent with the objectives of the North Atlantic Cooperation Council, which will hold its first meeting next week, we underlined our determination, as Defence Ministers, to play our full role in this endeavour. NATO has built up a unique body of experience and expertise in defence-related issues, including the planning and management of defence programmes, education and training and democratic control of military forces, which could be of great value to the governments of Central and Eastern Europe. We will therefore make this experience and expertise available to all the Central and Eastern European nations represented in the liaison process, and we considered ways in which, at various levels, this could be done. Our military will contribute to this process by intensifying their contacts and providing advice.
- The Alliance's new Strategic Concept marks a significant change from our past strategy. It sets out a broad approach to security reflected in the mutually reinforcing elements of dialogue, co-operation and the maintenance of an effective collective defence capability. The Concept is designed to maximise the opportunities presented by the improvement in our strategic environment, while providing the necessary insurance against the multi-directional and multi-faceted risks that may arise. Preventing and, if necessary, managing crises affecting the Alliance's security have become key features of the strategy.
- The Strategic Concept, as an agreed conceptual basis for the forces of all the Allies and for the further development of our defence policy, should also facilitate the necessary complementarity between the transformed Alliance and the emerging defence component of the process of European integration. The development of a European security identity and defence role, reflected in the strengthening of the European pillar within the Alliance, will not only serve the interests of the European states but also reinforce the integrity and effectiveness of the Alliance as a whole. In parallel, we shall enhance the essential transatlantic link that the Alliance guarantees and fully maintain the strategic unity and indivisibility of security of all our members. In this regard, the significant presence of North American conventional and US nuclear forces in Europe remains vital to the security of Europe. As the transformation of the Alliance proceeds, we shall preserve the operational coherence on which our defence depends.
- We welcomed the agreement of the European Council in Maastricht on a common foreign and security policy of the European Union and its member states including the eventual framing of a common defence policy which might in time lead to a common defence; a policy that will respect the obligations of member states under the North Atlantic Treaty and be compatible with the common security and defence policy established within that framework. We welcomed the fact that the European security and defence identity will be pursued through a gradual process involving successive phases, and that the WEU will be developed as the defence component of the European Union and as a means to strengthen the European pillar of the Atlantic Alliance. We also welcomed the fact that the WEU is prepared to develop further its close working links with the Alliance; that the WEU member states will strengthen their role, responsibilities and contributions in the Alliance; and that practical arrangements will be developed to ensure the necessary transparency and complementarity between the emerging European security and defence identity and the Alliance, including giving all European members of the Alliance the possibility of fully participating in its activities, and that all NATO Allies are adequately involved in decisions that may affect their security.
- We noted with satisfaction the substantial progress that has been made in transforming the Alliance's defences. We approved detailed military guidance to NATO and national military authorities for implementing the new Strategic Concept through our force plans and posture. We agreed the planning requirements for the Alliance's new force structure in terms of military concepts, organisation and capabilities. In our Annual Review we examined nations' plans for the period 1992-96 and beyond, and have concluded that, in general, the overall plans currently envisaged should meet future Alliance requirements. The major changes in force posture, including substantial reductions in the overall size of our forces, called for in the new strategy are already under way. Good progress has been made in identifying the necessary national contributions to Reaction, Main Defence and Augmentation Forces - the three force categories of the new Force Structure. Plans are also being developed for the creation of multinational units within the structure. These multinational forces, together with the need to maximise the effectiveness of the smaller forces of the future, will place an even greater premium on training and exercises and on the ability to work closely together. Our collective defence planning arrangements, based on an integrated military structure as well as on co-ordination agreements, will play a key role in ensuring the most cost-effective achievement of our common tasks.
- We considered proposals for a new NATO Command Structure with the aim of streamlining it, reducing it in size and adapting it to the new environment. As a first and major step we agreed to reduce the number of Major NATO Commanders from three to two - the Supreme Allied Commanders for Europe and the Atlantic. Furthermore, we decided that within Allied Command Europe there will be three Major Subordinate Commands responsible for the Southern, Central and Northwest regions, the command arrangements in the latter cases being based on the proposals of the study which we set in hand at our meeting in Taormina. There is also agreement that the detailed planning for the re- organisation of the Central Region should commence, including, inter alia, the amalgamation of the present five Principal Subordinate Commands into two, one for land forces and one for air forces. Work will continue to further develop the proposals for the whole structure down to Principal Subordinate Command level, and below where appropriate, including implications of costing and timing.
- The Strategic Concept emphasises the importance of reinforcement as a means available to the Alliance for conflict prevention, crisis management and defence. We approved a new Concept of Reinforcement for NATO which provides nations and NATO's Military and Civil Authorities with additional politico-military guidance for the flexible and effective employment of Allied forces.
- The process of transforming our defence posture is complex and still continuing. We discussed the progress being made in the review of our common funded infrastructure programme, which is intended to ensure that the programme and its management are adapted to meet the requirements of the new Strategy and force and command structures. We reaffirmed our support for the continuing efforts to promote armaments co-operation, notably through endorsement of the first ever NATO conventional armaments plan, and noted the work under way aimed at improving the conditions of defence trade among the Allies. We are reviewing our crisis management arrangements to ensure the Alliance is capable of responding appropriately to the future risks and challenges which we may face.
- Recognizing the continuing need for NATO's land-based fighter presence in the Southern Region and acknowledging the constraints precluding funding and thus the possibility of constructing the planned base at Crotone, we have directed the appropriate NATO authorities to explore alternative solutions which, taking into account the new security environment, will enable the Alliance to meet its standing commitment to fulfil this requirement.
- Our new force posture will maintain the principles of strategic unity and collective defence. A valuable contribution to improving the ageing and obsolescent equipment of the forces of Greece, Portugal and Turkey will be made by the commonly funded transfer of equipment which is becoming available as a consequence of the reductions planned to meet the requirements of the CFE Treaty. Military Assistance will still be necessary for these countries.
- In the field of arms control and disarmament, we attach the highest importance to the early ratification and implementation of the CFE Treaty. The Allies have been successful in actively shaping the follow-on CFE IA negotiation and proposals have been tabled which aim to establish limitations on military manpower. We remain committed to achieving results in the CSBM and Open Skies negotiations. The Allies intend to promote in Helsinki, with the participation of all CSCE states, a co-operative process aimed at establishing a new quality of openness and confidence and at strengthening security and stability at the lowest possible level of forces consistent with the requirements of defence.
- We discussed the recent developments in the Soviet Union and its republics and appeal to all parties concerned to pursue peacefully the process of transformation. We trust that in this process the republics, as they develop towards a common ground of co-operation, will fully respect the international security commitments of the Soviet Union, in particular those created by arms control agreements, notably the CFE, START and INF Treaties. We attach the greatest importance to ensuring the safe, responsible and reliable control of nuclear weapons under a single authority. On this crucial issue we pursued further our discussions started in Taormina and we will continue thorough and timely consultations within NATO in the future.
- During our discussions we expressed our deep concern over events in Yugoslavia, and our support for the efforts of the United Nations, CSCE, the European Community and WEU to resolve the crisis. We emphasized the considerable contribution being made to these efforts by Allies, both collectively and individually. We appeal to parties involved to end the conflict.
- Our meeting marks a further important step in the process of adapting to the changing environment. The Alliance will continue to play a key role in building a new, lasting order of peace in Europe. We are moving towards a Europe of co-operation and will continue to initiate and support constructive steps on this road where possible. Building on our achievements, and recognizing the challenges and opportunities of the future, we will continue our efforts to these ends. The prospect for success is all the surer for being based on political solidarity and effective collective defence within the Alliance. Recent crises and uncertainties underline this need.