Difficult Europeans: NATO and tactical/non-strategic nuclear weapons in the Cold War

Heuser, B. and Stoddart, K. (2017) Difficult Europeans: NATO and tactical/non-strategic nuclear weapons in the Cold War. Diplomacy and Statecraft, 28(3), pp. 454-476. (doi: 10.1080/09592296.2017.1347446)

[img]
Preview
Text
148378.pdf - Accepted Version

632kB

Abstract

This analysis examines NATO’s tactical/non-strategic nuclear weapons in the Cold War both for their perceived deterrent value against the Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact and as potential war fighting weapons. Within this debate lay questions related to extended deterrence, security guarantees, regional or theatre conflict, and escalatory potential. A central tenet that emerged in Europe was that nuclear weapons needed emplacement on the territory of non-nuclear NATO members to make deterrence more tangible. It raised huge questions of consultation. Once the Soviet Union had intercontinental missiles, the credibility of American readiness to use nuclear weapons in defence of its allies came into question. European alternatives and different consultation mechanisms to facilitate nuclear use became central to intra-NATO relations. Actively debated across NATO, they directly concerned above all the United States, Britain, and France—the nuclear weapons states in the NATO area—and West Germany, the potential main battleground in a Warsaw Pact invasion. Although dormant in NATO since the end of the Cold War, these issues will likely see revisiting in both Europe and other regional trouble spots.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Heuser, Professor Beatrice
Authors: Heuser, B., and Stoddart, K.
College/School:College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Politics
Journal Name:Diplomacy and Statecraft
Publisher:Taylor and Francis
ISSN:0959-2296
ISSN (Online):1557-301X
Published Online:14 September 2017
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2017 Taylor and Francis Group, LLC
First Published:First published in Diplomacy and Statecraft 28(3): 454-476
Publisher Policy:Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy

University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record