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Updated: 23-Oct-2000 Ministerial Communiqus

Nuclear
Planning
Group

Mittenwald
25th-26th
May, 1971

Final Communiqué

Chairman: Mr. M. Brosio.


Synopsis

Balance of strategic forces reviewed - Tactical use of nuclear weapon studies discussed.

The NATO Nuclear Planning Group composed of Ministers of Defence of eight NATO countries adjourned today after a two-day conference in Mittenwald, Germany. This was the ninth of the regular half-yearly meetings of the group.

Ministers attending the meeting were Mr. Donald S. MacDonald, Canada; Mr. Helmut Schmidt, Germany; Mr. Loukas Patras (Minister of State), Greece; Mr. Mario Tanassi, Italy; Mr. Willem den Toom, The Netherlands; Mr. Alv Jakob Fostervoll, Norway; Lord Carrington, United Kingdom; and Mr. Melvin R. Laird, United States. The meeting was chaired by Mr. Manlio Brosio, Secretary General of NATO.

Ministers reviewed the balance of strategic forces and exchanged views of the implications for NATO of recent trends and developments.

Ministers also confirmed that the NATO military plans were in conformity with the policy guidance which the NATO Defence Planning Committee had approved in December 1970.

Ministers discussed a number of studies dealing with the tactical use of nuclear weapons in defence of the Treaty area in support of the strategy of flexibility in response. These studies form part of an on-going work program designed to extend over several meetings. Consideration of these studies and others to be completed in the future is expected to assist in the development of further policy recommendations and thereby to enhance NATO's deterrent and defensive nuclear posture.

Ministers accepted the invitation extended by the Belgian Government to hold their next meeting in Belgium in the Autumn of 1971.


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