Does Europe Need a New Missile Defence System? ESF Working Papers No. 27, November 2007

US plans for a ballistic missile defence system in Europe have given rise to opposition in Russia and tensions in Europe. While some argue that the defence shield is needed to protect Europe against new threats from the proliferation of long-range missiles and nuclear weapons (chiefly from Iran and North Korea), critics hold that the project may pose a threat to Russia’s security and provoke yet another arms race. In this ESF Working Paper, Russian, European and American experts give their perspectives on the controversial US defence initiative, each analysing the strategic rationale for the system and the impact on international relations