Programmes

NATO unveils Strategic Concept

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization has unveiled its policy documents charting the way ahead for the Alliance over the next 10 years. The Strategic Concept, covering NATO doctrine on nuclear and conventional defence and security strategy, was released on November 19th. The Lisbon summit Declaration, on how the Alliance will implement the principles laid down in the Strategic Concept, came out the following day.

Obama: NATO to erect missile shield for Europe

“In an astonishing demonstration of weakness, NATO heads of state have failed to tackle the Cold War legacy of the deployment of U.S. nuclear gravity bombs in Europe, threatening the credibility of NATO members’ claims to be interested in non-proliferation and global disarmament.”

NATO summit as platform for US-Russia reSTART

“If it is stalled, then clearly it will harm the prospects for future negotiations that follow, that use this as a foundation for the next round.  It will be impossible to have another round of arms control negotiations, as such. If that treaty comes up for ratification on the floor of the Senate, it will pass. The debate is when it comes up for votes.”

Experts Call NATO Strategic Concept ‘Missed Opportunity to Reduce Role of Obsolete Tactical Nukes from Europe’

U.S. and European nuclear arms control and security experts criticized NATO\’s new “Strategic Concept” as a conservative, backward-looking policy, a missed opportunity to reduce the number and role of the 200 forward-deployed U.S. tactical nuclear bombs and engage Russia in a dialogue on removing all tactical nuclear weapons from Europe.

Tussle over New START ratification intensifies

The fight over ratification of New START has intensified, after the key Republican Senator being courted by the Obama administration, Jon Kyl, indicated that he opposed a vote in the lame duck session of Congress. However the Democratic chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, John Kerry, said the door is not yet closed. The New York Times reports on the treaty battle.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/16/senate-leader-deals-blow-t…