Prospects for naval arms control: A bad idea whose time has come. Final report

Technical Report · Sat Jun 30 00:00:00 EDT 1990

OSTI ID:6068984

Trout, B T

This paper assesses the contemporary prospects for naval arms control based on two principal contentions. (1) The political framework of the present arms control environment makes consideration of naval issues virtually certain. The notion that there should be naval arms control is widespread and will probably prove politically compelling if the overall arms control regime continues to develop. (2) The substantive naval issues amenable to negotiation within the prevailing balance are few, but those few are important. Therefore, a position of continuing U.S. Navy resistance to consideration of the subject of naval arms control is not tenable, and may be counterproductive. The Navy has two options for a constructive approach to arms control. One option is to take the initiative on soft issues such as scheduling annual meetings of senior naval officials of the two sides to discuss issues without commitment to negotiate. A second option focuses on the limited range of hard naval arms control issues, sea-launched cruise missiles, tactical naval nuclear weapons, attack submarines and related force questions.

• Research Organization: Naval War Coll., Newport, RI (USA). Center for Naval Warfare Studies
• OSTI ID: 6068984
• Report Number(s): AD-A-228688/8/XAB; NWC/CNWS-9-90
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION
USA
ARMS CONTROL
BALANCE OF POWER
CRUISE MISSILES
MISSILES
NUCLEAR WEAPONS
POLITICAL ASPECTS
PROGRESS REPORT
SUBMARINES
US DOD
WEAPONS
DOCUMENT TYPES
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NORTH AMERICA
SHIPS
US ORGANIZATIONS
350100* - Arms Control- Policy
Negotiations
& Legislation- (1987-)