NATO Nuclear Bases: U.S. Should Seek Needs Reassessment and Increased Alliance Contributions
Abstract
To support NATO, the United States stores air-delivered nuclear bombs at U.S. and allied strike bases in Europe. At allied strike bases, U.S. Air Force units maintain peacetime custody of nuclear bombs that could be transferred to the host nations forces during wartime. According to existing bilateral agreements, the host nations should provide virtually all logistics support and other services required by U.S. custodial units stationed at allied strike bases. After the demise of the Warsaw Pact, the United States and its NATO allies recognized that tactical nuclear weapons were of increasingly limited value. In October 1991, NATOS Defense ministers asked the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe (SACEUR), its senior military commander, to determine the exact number of nuclear bombs NATO needed to retain, and to develop a plan to distribute the weapons for peacetime storage. The Defense Ministers stated that NATOS nuclear force structure should be fIexible, militarily responsive and effective, and structured to allow the continued participation by nations that currently deploy strike aircraft and store nuclear weapons on their territory.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1993
- Accession Number
- AD1179900
Entities
People
- Donald Heller
- Elliott C. Smith
- Frederick A. Bigden
- Jon Chasson
- Richard A. Davis
- Samuel L. Hinojosa
- Thomas J. Denomme
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office