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NATO S Nuclear Future: The Alliance s Posture Review, Non-Strategic Nuclear Weapons in Europe and Arms Control
The Brookings Institution July 19, 2011 By Miriam Awadallah The Brookings Institution recently hosted a discussion on the future of nuclear weapons in Europe based on a paper written by Steven Pifer, a Senior Fellow at the think tank and the Director of its Arms Control Initiative. Angela Stent, a non-resident Fellow at Brookings, moderated the discussion. Hans Kristensen, the Director of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists, and Frank Miller, a Principal Member of the Scowcroft Group, joined Mr. Pifer as panelists. Mr. Pifer began the discussion by outlining the issues NATO must address as it reexamines the Deterrence and Defense Posture Review, which he narrowed down to seven questions: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. What is the nature of the threat NATO is seeking to deter? Are American nuclear weapons necessary for European security policy? If there is to be a continued American nuclear presence in Europe, what is the appropriate number? What is the future of dual capable aircraft? What is the deal with risk and burden sharing? What is the appropriate mix of conventional nuclear and missile defense forces? How does NATO deal with the issue of nuclear weapons and public sustainability at a time when European elites and publics do not see a threat that justifies nuclear deterrence?

Mr. Miller and Mr. Kriestensen then added their thoughts to the discussion, with Mr. Kriestensen arguing for a reduction of American non-strategic nuclear weapons in Europe. He stated that it is necessary for the strategic review to make a clear decision on phasing out non-strategic weapons in Europe, rather than taking the time to make slow, incremental decisions. Mr. Miller, on the other hand, argued that phasing out American non-strategic weapons would be unfair to the newest members of NATO, which desire the same type of protection that America offered its Western European allies back in 1949 when the alliance was first formed. He made the case that several European nations appear to be reverting back to the old nationalist sentiments of the early

20thcentury and that American non-strategic nuclear weapons in Europe serve as an important symbol of the security the US offers its European allies.