Star Wars controversy in West Germany

Journal Article · · Bull. At. Sci.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/00963402.1987.11459557· OSTI ID:6142441

Risse-Kappen, T

There is not much enthusiasm for SDI in West Germany. Support comes from a fragile coalition of true believers and Atlanticist skeptics whose credibility depends heavily on US foreign policy behavior, especially regarding the future of the Geneva negotiations and the ABM Treaty. Whether and how a US-Soviet deal on intermediate-range missiles might affect the West German debate over SDI is unclear. On the one hand, a zero solution for both longer-range and shorter-range INF will almost certainly reduce West European demands for antitactical ballistic missiles as a complement to strategic defenses. Such a deal would in fact eliminate the nuclear and non-nuclear threat against which ATBMs are supposed to defend, and US efforts to sell ATBMs at Europe will therefore lose ground. On the other hand, a separate INF agreement might well reduce public attentiveness toward SDI and the ABM Treaty. While the West Germans will celebrate an INF treaty as a historic event in nuclear arms control - and they are right to do so - they might overlook the fact that the price to be paid for this agreement may be unconstrained US-Soviet competition in strategic offensive and defensive weapons. 2 references.

• Research Organization: Peace Research Institute, Frankfurt, West Germany
• OSTI ID: 6142441
• Journal Information: Bull. At. Sci.; (United States), Journal Name: Bull. At. Sci.; (United States) Vol. 43:6; ISSN BASIA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

350100* -- Arms Control-- Policy
Negotiations
& Legislation-- (1987-)
98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION
AGREEMENTS
ARMS CONTROL
ASIA
BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE
EASTERN EUROPE
EUROPE
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
NATIONAL DEFENSE
NORTH AMERICA
NUCLEAR WEAPONS
POLITICAL ASPECTS
USA
USSR
WEAPONS
WESTERN EUROPE