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Effectiveness of NATO's strategy - Force goals for 1987-1992 - Coordinated approach to Conventional Defence Improvements (CDI) including sustainability of forces, integrated air defence, infrastructure projects, exploitation of emerging technologies, aid

  1. The Defence Planning Committee of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization met in Ministerial Session in Brussels on 22nd May 1986, and agreed the following :
  1. A strong and united Alliance is essential for the maintenance of peace and freedom in face of the continuous build-up of Warsaw Pact conventional and nuclear forces. Our strategy of flexible response and forward defence continues to provide the most effective formula for ensuring security and stability at the lowest possible level of forces. Nuclear weapons are an essential component of this strategy. But we are determined to avoid an undue reliance on the early use of nuclear weapons by making a special effort to improve our conventional capabilities.
  2. We are already moving ahead. The action plan for Conventional Defence Improvements (CDI) we agreed last May was an important first step. It set in motion several positive developments. The most significant are the 1987-1992 force goals which reflect the priorities we have identified for improving conventional defence. This is where our resources are most needed. We are determined to make a special effort to fulfil the force goals, particularly those singled out as most relevant to improving our conventional posture. We recognize that sustained commitment will be required.
  3. Progress has been made already ; for example improvements in plans which would further increase stocks of selected priority ammunition. We are confident that substantial conventional defence improvements are now firmly in national plans and will materialise in the mid term. We have also laid the groundwork for real improvements in long term planning. We have made a good start and laid the foundation for achieving more credible conventional forces ; we must build on it.
  4. We are taking other actions which will contribute to strengthening our forces. These include:
    • improvements in the sustainability of our forces
    • consideration of ways of enhancing NATO's integrated air defence to enable it to deal with the full spectrum of the Warsaw Pact air threat, including tactical missiles ;
    • the accelerated implementation of infrastructure projects,particularly reinforcement support facilities including hardened aircraft shelters ; roughly 90 % of the increased budget for 1985-1990 is being spent on projects related to CDI ;
    • the continued and cost effective exploitation of emerging technologies;
    • a fresh emphasis on the need to provide more assistance, and by more nations, to Greece, Portugal and Turkey in order to help them overcome known deficiencies in their forces and carry out their missions more effectively to the advantage of the Alliance.
  6. We have also agreed to improvements in the Alliance planning procedures. These are more effective co-ordination between the various planning areas of the Alliance and the provision of more effective long term planning guidance on our military requirements through regular updating of the Conceptual Military Framework and the development of long term planning guidelines by our Military Authorities.
  7. Achieving the objective of better conventional forces will not be easy. The provision of adequate resources in accordance with the 1985 Ministerial Guidance, which reaffirmed the aim of a 3 % real increase as a general guide, will continue to be a serious challenge for all nations. Improving conventional forces will also require an even greater emphasis on making better use of resources and on improved co-operation and co-ordination. Better armaments co-operation and sharing of technology between the European and the North American and the developed and developing members of the Alliance are vital parts of this process, as is the continued protection of militarily relevant technology.
  8. We emphasized the major contribution which co-operation in the research, development and production of armaments can make to the strengthening of conventional defences in the context of the current CDI effort. several promising initiatives are underway on both sides of the Atlantic. We underlined the importance of fully implementing NATO's Armaments Co-operation Improvement Strategy, agreed by Ministers in December 1985, and in this respect we welcomed the useful impetus provided by the Nunn Amendment, which has already resulted in agreement on Statements of Intent for seven collaborative projects.
  9. Recalling the documents in the l982 Bonn Summit we reaffirmed the position adopted in previous communiqués concerning developments outside the NATO Treaty area that might threaten the vital interests of members of the Alliance. Against the background of United States planning for its rapidly deployable forces, measures necessary to maintain deterrence and defence within the NATO area have been included in the new force goals. We will ensure that NATO defence planning continues to take account of the need for compensatory measures.
  10. As part of Alliance security policy, we confirmed our objective of seeking balanced, equitable and effectively verifiable arms control agreements involving United States and Soviet nuclear forces. We welcomed the commitment by the United States and the Soviet Union to seek early progress in Geneva in areas of common ground, including 50% reductions in offensive nuclear arms, appropriately applied, and the idea of a separate INF agreement. In this context we expressed strong support for the United States' stance concerning intermediate-range, strategic and defence and space systems. We welcomed the willingness of the United States to consult with its Allies on these issues. Alliance solidarity and cohesion have played an important role in bringing these developments about and will remain equally vital for future progress.
  11. We stressed the need for progress in the various multilateral conventional arms control negotiations. We noted that in face of the imbalances which exist with regard to conventional forces throughout Europe progress towards balanced and verifiable reductions of these forces would contribute to strengthening of peace and security in Europe. We expressed the hope that recent Soviet statements on this subject will be transformed into deeds at the negotiating table. We also confirmed our resolve to seek an early conclusion of a worldwide ban on chemical weapons. In this context we called upon the Soviet Union to take a more constructive attitude towards effective verification provisions.
  12. Terrorism is a serious concern to all our Governments. We are not prepared to tolerate this threat to our citizens and to the conduct of normal international relations. Our Governments are resolved to work together to eradicate this scourge and urge closer international co-operation in this effort.

Greece reserves its position on the INF and space system issues.

Norway reserves its position on the defence and space systems.

Denmark reserves its position on INF and defence and space systems.