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The Defence Ministers of the member countries of the North
Atlantic Alliance met in Paris on 25th July, 1966 under the
chairmanship of the Secretary General, Mr. Manlio Brosio.
- The Ministers reaffirmed their determination, in pursuit of
their objective of maintaining peace and security, to continue
to take all necessary measures to provide a deterrent to war
and to ensure the defence and integrity of the North Atlantic
area.
- They reviewed the progress made since December 1965 in the
studies of the inter-related questions of strategy, force
requirements, and resources which were initiated by ministers
at Ottawa in May 1963. After a comprehensive survey of the
forces which member countries plan for the Alliance, in the
course of which they emphasized the importance of a balanced
force structure and the need for an equitable sharing of
burdens, they noted the improvements envisaged over the period
up to 1970 and, taking into account the special position of the
South Eastern Region, adopted a NATO force plan for this period
within the agreed concept of forward defence. They identified
certain other measures by which NATO forces could be
strengthened during the same period and laid down guidelines
for their further improvement in the years following 1970. In
this context, they called for an appreciation of the military
situation as it would affect NATO up to and including 1975.
They also gave directions for a series of studies designed to
secure the best possible use of available resources. They noted
that the contribution of French forces to the Alliance and the
conditions of their co-operation with NATO forces were under
separate consideration.
- The United Kingdom Defence Secretary drew attention to the
problems that might arise militarily and financially for the
Alliance from a failure to solve those balance of payments
difficulties which his country was facing as a result of its
contribution to NATO.
- The Ministers underlined the importance of the defence of
the flank regions of the North Atlantic area. They also gave
instructions for the completion of defence planning studies
related to the South Eastern Region.
- They devoted special attention to the part which the Allied
Command Europe Mobile Force can play in contributing to
deterrence and demonstrating that spirit of solidarity and
unity of purpose upon which the North Atlantic Alliance is
based. They gave directions for the development of new
financial arrangements for this force.
- Ministers also reaffirmed the principle of an annual defence
planning review on a 5-year basis. They adopted measures for
the initiation in January 1967 of procedures which, by
projecting Alliance force goals and country plans five years
ahead each year, will improve the annual process of reviewing
the defence efforts of member countries and agreeing upon their
force contributions.
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