PRESS INFO 4 July 1997

The Transformation of NATO's Defence Posture At the London Summit in 1990 the Alliance made clear that it no longer regarded the countries of the then Warsaw Treaty Organization as adversaries. NATO also began a process of transformation reflected in a new Strategic Concept as well as a radical reduction and restructuring of NATO forces. The Strategic Concept was based on a broad approach to security in which cooperation and dialogue with non-member countries would play a prominent part. The establishment of the North Atlantic Cooperation Council (NACC), followed by the introduction of the Partnership for Peace Programme (PfP), constituted the first steps in this direction. Subsequently, a new body known as the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) has been established to replace the NACC and to provide the framework for future political and security-related consultations and for enhanced cooperation under PfP. In addition, following the signature of the NATO-Russia Founding Act, a NATO-Russia Permanent Joint Council has been created. A Charter between NATO and Ukraine has also been concluded and a NATO-Ukraine Commission established. In the military sphere, peacekeeping was accepted as one of the future missions of NATO forces. This decision led to the formation of the NATO-led Implementation Force (IFOR), tasked with the implementation of the military aspects of the Bosnian Peace Agreement, followed by the establishment of the Stabilisation Force (SFOR). NATO's previous strategy was based on a classified NATO document, known as MC 14/3, which emphasized deterrence through the maintenance of a major war-fighting capability ("forward defence") and gave a central role to nuclear weapons among military options available to the Alliance ("flexible response"). The current Strategic Concept is a public document which emphasizes that preparations for defence against a full-scale military attack are no longer the focus of Alliance planning. It reflects the judgement that risks to NATO are more likely to arise from instability, including ethnic rivalry or territorial disputes. It also reflects a move away from forward defence and flexible response and a reduced reliance on nuclear weapons. The focus is now on maintaining an adequate but much reduced defence capability, a well-developed crisis-management capability, an enhanced dialogue with other nations and a cooperative approach to security, including arms control. This major change in approach is clearly reflected in substantial changes in NATO's defence posture introduced since 1990.

Land Forces Major combat units available to NATO have been reduced by 35%. Only 35% of this reduced force is kept at 30 days readiness or less, compared to 90% which was maintained at 2 days readiness or less in 1990. Maritime Forces Major naval combatants available to NATO have been reduced by 32%. Fewer than 60% are now at 30 days readiness or less, compared to three-quarters maintained at 2 days readiness or less in 1990. Air Forces Combat squadrons available to NATO have been cut by 41%. Only about half are at 30 days readiness or less, compared to nearly 70% at 12 hours readiness in 1990. Military Personnel NATO nations have cut their military personnel by 24%. Defence Expenditures Alliance nations have cut defence expenditures by 22%. The proportion of GDP spent on defence by NATO Allies has decreased from 4.1% to 2.8%. Nuclear Weapons NATO's land-based nuclear stockpile has been cut by over 80%. Nuclear artillery, surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles have been eliminated. Nuclear weapons have been withdrawn from surface warships. Nuclear free-fall bombs have been reduced in number and the readiness of dual-capable aircraft has been reduced. US nuclear forces are being cut by a third under the Strategic Arms Reductions Talks (START I) and will reduce by two-thirds under START II. The United Kingdom is cutting warheads on strategic submarines by 25% compared to 1990. France will eliminate short- and intermediate-range surface-to-surface missiles and has postponed a new submarine-launched missile system. Force Structures Alliance nations are restructuring their forces for smaller scale operations, including crisis management and peacekeeping tasks. Essential characteristics of these restructured forces include a reduced emphasis on armoured warfare; smaller force structures and an increased proportion of professional forces or the complete elimination of conscription in favour of all-regular forces. Forward Stationing of Forces Two-thirds of the land forces formerly stationed in Germany have been withdrawn. Forward stationed combat aircraft have been cut by 70%. This reduction will increase to over 80% by the year 2002. Forward-stationed military personnel have been cut by two-thirds. United States forces in Europe have been reduced from about 300,000 to about 100,000. Military Exercises The NATO exercise programme has been cut back. Large-scale reinforcement exercises, like the REFORGER series of exercises, are no longer carried out. More emphasis is being put on crisis-management and peacekeeping exercises, including combined exercises with PfP Partners. Moreover, exercises are no longer based on the premise of an East-West conflict. Today's military exercises make use of generic scenarios without reference to any specific country or explicit conflict situations. Tables Land Forces Divisions (22 Kb) Major Naval Combatants (18 Kb) Aircraft Squadrons (18 Kb) Defence spending levels of NATO countries (18 Kb) NATO's Sub-Strategic Nuclear Force Reductions (16 Kb)