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Defence Planning Committee reviews force goals - Infrastructure to be continued - NATO flanks - Reservists - Nuclear defence affairs.

  1. The Defence Planning Committee of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization met in Ministerial session in Brussels on 10th May, 1968.
  1. Ministers reaffirmed the need for the Alliance to maintain an effective military capability and to assure a balance of forces between NATO and the Warsaw Pact in Europe and elsewhere. They regard this as essential for the preservation of the climate of stability, security and confidence necessary for progress towards détente and solution of outstanding political issues. To this end, and as part of the continuing process of NATO defence planning, they adopted a series of force goals for the period 1969-1973 as a basis for the preparation of plans by countries and the adoption of a NATO force plan by Ministers in December 1968. These goals mark a further stage in the adaptation of NATO's force structure to the strategic concept, adopted in December 1967, of forward defence and of a balanced range of appropriate responses. In welcoming the fact that studies were now proceeding under the aegis of the Council on the subject of possible balanced force reductions, Ministers endorsed the proposition that the overall military capability of NATO should not be reduced except as part of a pattern of mutual force reductions balanced in scope and timing.
  2. In support of five-year force planning, Ministers recognized the success of the NATO common infrastructure program in providing physical facilities fundamental to NATO's deterrent and defensive effectiveness and in demonstrating the cohesion and solidarity of the Alliance. They decided that it should be continued without interruption, and directed that a review be undertaken to ensure its most effective implementation.
  3. Ministers adopted, as a basis for further planning, a concept for the external reinforcement of the flanks to supplement local national forces in an emergency. They recognized at the same time the vital role that local national forces play in the defence of the flank regions, and the need to improve their effectiveness.
  4. Ministers devoted special attention to the plans of member countries for mobilizing reservists as a means of matching any military build-up by a potential aggressor. They also reviewed reports on a number of studies commissioned at previous meetings, and gave instructions for further work.
  5. The Defence Planning Committee endorsed a recommendation by Ministers of member countries of the Nuclear Defence Affairs Committee, who had met earlier the same day, for approval of the view reached by the Nuclear Planning Group, at its Ministerial meeting in The Hague on 18th and l9th April, 1968, that present circumstances did not justify the deployment of an anti-ballistic missile system in Europe, but that developments in this field should be kept under constant review. Ministers approved recommendations by the Nuclear Planning Group and the Nuclear Defence Affairs Committee for increasing participation of member countries in the military nuclear planning of the Alliance. They fully endorsed the hope expressed by Ministers of the Nuclear Planning Group that progress could be made in discussions with the Soviet Union towards a limitation of the strategic nuclear arms race, and welcomed the intention of the United States Government to consult fully with its allies on new developments in this direction.
  6. The Nuclear Defence Affairs Committee agreed that the member countries of the Nuclear Planning Group for the period of eighteen months from 1st July, 1968, should be Belgium, Denmark, the Federal Republic of Germany, Greece, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Turkey will take Greece's place during the period at an appropriate time.