Europe's nuclear superpowers

Journal Article · · Foreign Policy; (United States)

OSTI ID:6892341

Seignious, II, G M; Yates, J P

Both Great Britain and France are on the verge of nuclear buildups ambitious enough to turn either one into the world's third nuclear superpower. The authors note that the expansion of British and French arsenals will add greatly to the West's nuclear firepower, but on balance these forces will actually weaken Western security. The reason is that they will be deployed largely in potentially vulnerable and destabilizing modes. In addition, they will threaten the unity of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the viability of the alliance's nuclear doctrine. Perhaps most important, these forces will almost certainly spark a counterbuild-up by the Soviets and fatally complicate the task of arms control. The authors feel, therefore, that the time to include British and French forces in nuclear arms talks is now - before the planned increase in their nuclear might takes place. London and Paris have authorized programs that can give them unprecedented influence with the superpowers and should use this opportunity to slow the arms race, not supercharge it.

• Research Organization: Atlantic Council of the United States, Washington, DC
• OSTI ID: 6892341
• Journal Information: Foreign Policy; (United States), Journal Name: Foreign Policy; (United States) Vol. 55; ISSN FRPLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290600* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Nuclear Energy
EUROPE
FRANCE
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NATO
NUCLEAR DETERRENCE
NUCLEAR WEAPONS
PROLIFERATION
UNITED KINGDOM
WEAPONS
WESTERN EUROPE