Disarmament Diplomacy
Issue No. 37, May 1999
A Note Regarding NATO Strategy
By Jozef Goldblat
For those who expected significant changes in the strategic concept
of NATO, the results of the 50th anniversary summit meeting of the
Alliance are disappointing. As hitherto, NATO is ready to be first
to employ nuclear weapons in any armed conflicts, including
conflicts initiated with conventional means of warfare. Nuclear
weapons are to remain in Europe for an indefinite period of time,
and their deployment in the territories of the new NATO member
States is not excluded. The doctrine of nuclear deterrence remains
a sacred cow. More than that. In acknowledging the responsibility
of the United Nations in solving international disputes, the
leaders of NATO States have resorted to a circumlocution which may
be - and actually is - interpreted by certain Governments as
allowing NATO to continue using forces against States without UN
approval.
States have the right of individual or collective self-defense
if an armed attack occurs against them. However, according to the
UN Charter, which is binding on all States, measures taken in the
exercise of this right must be immediately reported to the UN
Security Council, the only body entitled to enforce international
peace and security with military means. By disregarding this
fundamental rule of civilised behaviour among nations, NATO has
debilitated the authority and powers of the World Organization. It
may eventually destroy the Organization to shape the fate of the
globe in conformity with its own precepts.
Jozef Goldblat is Vice-President of the Geneva
International Peace Research Institute.
Note: the Editor welcomes the submission of short notes
on contemporary arms control issues, as well as full-length
Opinion & Analysis papers, for possible inclusion in the
journal.
© 1999 The Acronym Institute.
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