A two-day conference on “The Future of NATO’s Nuclear Deterrent: the New Strategic Concept and the 2010 NPT Review” began this morning at the NATO Defense College.
The purpose of the conference, organized by the NDC Research Division and sponsored by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency and the NATO Nuclear Policy Directorate, is to reconsider deterrence in the light of the New Strategic Concept.
The Commandant of the NATO Defense College, Lieutenant General Wolf-Dieter LOESER, welcomed participants and underlined the topicality of the subject, which is due to the increasing number of nuclear players and the nuclear dimension of the international order.
This is the fifth in a series of seminars focusing on nuclear deterrence and highlighting the importance, in the current international scenario, of such a sensitive matter at both the political and the military level.
As Lieutenant General LOESER said during his opening remarks, the conference intends to contribute to the ongoing nuclear debate with a holistic approach starting from four broad issues.
The first concerns NATO’s nuclear deterrence policies and the future of the United States’ extension of deterrence to NATO; the second concerns the future requirements for the Alliance’s nuclear deterrence posture. The third is linked to certain implications of the May 2010 NPT Review Conference. The last – but not least – is related to the long-term repercussions on the NATO deterrent of deep nuclear cuts with a view to achieving "global zero".
During these intensive two days, conference participants will endeavour to provide their contribution to the debate, sharing their points of view and explaining their respective national positions in an open-minded environment conducive to frank and effective talks.
LtCol. Mario Masdea, Chief Public Affairs Office, ITA-A
Collège de Défense de l'OTAN