After a review of the global threat from ballistic missiles, the author examines the US Ballistic Missile Defence System (BMDS). The various positions in Europe (NATO, the EU, Britain, France, Germany and Russia) are presented. Concerned at the possibility of a new arms race, the author puts forward the WEU Parliamentary Assembly’s recommendations, which constitute the beginnings of a common European strategy.
Missile Defence–the Need for a Common European Initiative
The European Security and Defence (WEU) Assembly is of the view that one of the most serious threats to European security is the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and of the missile technology for their delivery. Both the WMD and the missiles are being developed in an increasing number of countries, not all of which are predictable in the ways and the purposes for which they will deploy them.
A roll-call around the world reveals:
• five countries (China, Russia, France, the United Kingdom and the United States) are declared nuclear weapon states with delivery systems with a range of over 7,000 km (Russia 11,000 km and China 13,000 km);
• a number which are undeclared but already in possession of nuclear weapons or which aspire to and are working towards that status. These include six further countries (India, Iran, Israel, North Korea, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia) which possess missiles with a range in excess of 1,000 km;
• no less than a further 19 countries possessing missiles with a range of less than 1,000 km.
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