Implications of reduced NATO nuclear stockpiles
After completing the initial deployment of nuclear weapons in Europe in the early 1960s, the US maintained for the next 20 years a stockpile advertised at 7000 weapons in the support of NATO. This number was not explained by any official statement of the roles of the weapons, which made the stockpile vulnerable to politically motivated decisions to reduce its size. Ensuing reductions have brought the number to a nominal 6000 weapons, with an announced further reduction to 4600 planned. The reduction of NATO's nuclear weapons stockpile reflects a weakening of the long-standing Alliance consensus supporting reliance on nuclear weapons as a key feature of NATO's military posture. The adequacy of the number of NATO's nuclear weapons is probably best judged by its likely effect on Soviet calculations for starting a war in Europe. It has been judged that 4600 weapons will dissuade the Soviets if they are convinced that NATO would resort to nuclear weapons to forestall a military defeat. Smaller numbers might also dissuade the Soviets, but at some point substantive improvements in NATO's nuclear target-engagement systems would be required to preserve that dissuasiveness. Improvements could be made in both technology and in organizational methods of incorporating nuclear capability into NATO's forces.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Lab., NM (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- OSTI ID:
- 6183202
- Report Number(s):
- LA-10221-MS; ON: DE85005332
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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