Header
Updated: 25-Oct-2000 Ministerial Communiqus

Defence
Planning
Committee

Brussels
6th-7th May, 1981

Final Communiqué

Chairman: Mr. J. Luns.


Synopsis

Build-up of Soviet military forces - Soviet military occupation of Afghanistan - Condemnation of Argentine invasion of Falklands Islands - Publication of NATO and the Warsaw Pact Force Comparisons - NATO Force Goals 1983-1988 - Adherence to 3% formula guidance - Implementation of Long-Term Defence Programme - Military assistance to member countries experiencing serious economic difficulties - Importance of arms control agreements to security - START - Preparations for deployment of Cruise and Pershing II missiles in Europe - MBFR - Consultation on effect of out-of-area deployments - US Rapid Deployment Force - Technology transfer problems - Prospective accession of Spain to the Alliance.


    The Defence Planning Committee in Ministerial Session met in Brussels on 6th and 7th May, 1982. Ministers reviewed NATO defence efforts in the light of the international situation. In addition to examining the situation in Europe, where the continuing build-up of Soviet military forces is of direct concern to the Alliance, Ministers also discussed other areas where vital political and defence issues for members could be at stake including South West Asia where Afghanistan continues to be occupied by Soviet military forces. Ministers endorsed the statement by Eurogroup Ministers, in their communiqué of the previous day, in which they condemned Argentina's armed invasion of the Falkland Islands and the Dependencies as well as her failure to comply with Security Council Resolution Number 502; noted the importance of maintaining the principle that aggression or occupation of territory by force should not be allowed to succeed: and urged the need to seek a negotiated solution acceptable to all parties concerned on the basis of the implementation of Security Council Resolution Number 502 in all its parts.

  1. The review underlined the validity of NATO's strategy of deterrence and defence coupled with a strong commitment to arms control and disarmament. The principles on which the Western Alliance was founded remain as sound today as they were three decades ago when it was established. NATO's defensive posture is designed to protect the freedom and independence of member countries and to safeguard the common values and way of life their peoples share. NATO's military capabilities must remain adequate for the preservation of peace and an effective defence posture must be maintained. NATO is determined to take the measures necessary to ensure the continuing effectiveness of the NATO deterrent.

  2. Effective deterrence requires that the Warsaw Pact continue to realize that the risks of any aggression are out of all proportion to any gain they could hope to achieve; this, in turn, depends on fully effective NATO conventional forces. as well as nuclear forces.

  3. In this context Ministers welcomed the issue, both in Brussels and in capitals, of a comparison of NATO and Warsaw Pact forces. This is the first time that an authoritative NATO study of the relative strengths of NATO and Warsaw Pact forces has been made public. The comparison of opposing forces clearly shows the adverse trends which have developed and the growing numerical superiority of the Warsaw Pact forces, especially in personnel, longer range INF missile systems, submarines, aircraft and tanks, as well as the Soviet Union's marked advances in the field of technology and strongly increasing arms production capability.

  4. A change of NATO defence planning issues was reviewed. NATO force goals for the period 1983-1988 will pose a significant challenge which underlines the importance of adhering to the existing 3% formula guidance notwithstanding financial and economic constraints. There has been considerable progress in the modernization of NATO forces under the Long-Term Defence Programme. Action will be taken to improve the implementation of the Long-Term Defence Programme measures in those areas where more progress needs to be made. The Alliance will continue to work to ensure that the best use is made of all the human, material and financial resources available to strengthen NATO's capabilities. The urgent need for continued and intensified military assistance by Allies to member countries suffering from particularly serious economic difficulties was reaffirmed.

  5. Arms Control agreements resulting in substantially reduced, equal and verifiable levels of forces would significantly enhance international security. Arms control negotiations therefore play an important role in NATO's security policy. It is essential to continue work towards such results despite recent Soviet actions which have cast a dark shadow on East-West co-operation. The Soviet Union is called upon to take the steps necessary to re-establish the international climate of confidence. Meanwhile the determination of the United States to begin Strategic Arms Reduction Talks (START) with the Soviet Union is warmly welcomed. In the field of intermediate-range nuclear forces, the United States arms control initiative of last year, which introduced the zero-level proposal, was recalled. The United States negotiating position in Geneva which was based on this initiative has the full support of the Allies. In this respect Ministers stressed the importance of the continuation at the same time of preparations for the deployment of ground-launched cruise missiles and Pershing II missiles in Europe. In the absence of a concrete agreement between the United States and the Soviet Union the schedule for this deployment has to be maintained (1).

  6. In the MBFR negotiations in Vienna, the member nations concerned are determined to continue their pursuit of an agreement which will strengthen security in Europe through reductions to equal levels of manpower with associated measures to enhance stability and verify compliance. For this to be achieved, it will be essential for the East to match the readiness of the West, particularly in the field of data, to take the steps necessary to reach agreement on the existing force levels from which reductions will be made.

  7. Ministers stressed their common interest in the security, stability and sovereign independence of the countries outside the NATO areas. At the same time military aggression in areas outside NATO has potential to threaten the vital interests of members of the Alliance. Members of the Alliance are able to contribute either directly or indirectly to efforts to deter aggression and to respond to requests by nations outside the NATO area for help in resisting threats to their security or independence. In this respect, they reaffirmed that consultations on any out-of area deployment of forces, such as envisaged in the United States Rapid Deployment Force, are intended to identify common objectives, taking full account of the political situation in the area concerned and of the effect on Alliance security and defence capability as well as the national interests of member countries. Recognizing that the policies which nations adopt in this field are a matter for national decision, Ministers agreed that the effect of such deployment on Alliance security and defence capabilities should be examined collectively in the appropriate NATO bodies. In this connection NATO, through its defence and other contingency planning activities, must take account of requirements which may arise from such consideration. They also agreed that, in the light of NATO consultations, members of the Alliance may be required to facilitate out-of-area deployments in support of the vital interests of all. The Military Committee is studying the implications for the Alliance of the United States strategic concept for South West Asia. A report will be made to Defence Ministers at their December Ministerial meeting.

  8. Other items on the Agenda included a report on the progress being made towards more effective and balanced equipment planning, co-operation and procurement in conventional armaments, communications, command and control and air defence. The continuing importance of Allied technological help to the lesser industrialized member nations was stressed.

  9. Ministers reconfirmed the seriousness of the technology transfer problem as it relates to the East-West military balance. An analysis of the security implications for the Alliance of the transfer of militarily relevant technology to the Warsaw Pact is nearing completion. There remains a need for control of such transfers within the framework of existing international consultations. In addition, action is called for to strengthen the technological base of the Alliance itself.

  10. Whilst Ministers expressed concern at the serious challenges facing the Alliance, at the same time they are encouraged by the considerable achievements in arriving at common policy positions concerning current issues and in particular in reaching agreement on a wide range of defence policies, projects and planning objectives. These agreements reached among sovereign nations in a spirit of Alliance co-operation are a source of strength and confidence for NATO. In the same spirit Ministers welcomed the prospective accession of Spain to the Alliance.

Footnote

  1. Greece reserves its position on the last two sentences.


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