Adapting NATO's deterrence posture: the Alliance's new strategic concept and implications for nuclear policy, non-proliferation, arms control, and disarmanent

On 4-6 May 2011 the Esonian Ministry of Defense hosted and co-sponsored a workshop in Tallinn concerning the challenges of adapting NATO's deterrence posture in light of the neew Strategic Concept approved at the November Lisbon Summit. The workshop focused on issues likely to figure in the NATO Deterrence and Defense Posture Review (DDPR) commissioned at the Lisbon Summit. The main points raised in the discussion were as follows: The Alliance's deterrence and defense posture should be strengthened not only in order to prevent aggression against the Allies but also in view of their responsibilities outside the NATO area. While the NATO allies choose for multiple reasons not to name publicly the objects of their deterrence efforts, they should be frank in their internal deliberations. The DDPR will examine the full range of capabilities, but it must look beyond capabilities to the political dimension of deterrence. Cyber capabilities pose an array of unprecedented and unresolved challenges for NATO deterrence strategy and operations. The Alliance's deterrence and defense policy should encompass space security issues...The article of record may be found at http://www.ndc.nato.int/download/downloads.php?icode=294.North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO); Estonian Monistry of Defens