RETHINKING STRATEGIC BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENCES

In: Arms control: the journal of arms control and disarmament, Band 14, Heft 4, S. 180-207

Abstract

THIS PAPER TAKES A FRESH LOOK AT THE ANTI-BALLISTIC MISSILE (ABM) TREATY AND THE ISSUE OF BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENCE (BMD) IN LIGHT OF THE END OF THE COLD WAR, THE DISSOLUTION OF THE SOVIET UNION AND, WITH IT, THE DEMISE OF THE SOVIET THREAT. IT SUGGESTS THAT DEPLOYMENT OF LIMITED BMD SHOULD TAKE PLACE ONLY WITHIN A FRAMEWORK OF RUSSIAN-AMERICAN POLITICAL-MILITARY CO-OPERATION, INCLUDING A MODIFIED BUT STILL ACTIVE ABM TREATY. IT CONCLUDES THAT THE U.S. SHOULD PURSUE WITH THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION A PROPOSAL TO DEPLOY BETWEEN 250 AND 300 LONG-RANGE, GROUND-BASED, NON-NUCLEAR BALLISTIC MISSILE INTERCEPTORS WITHIN THE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES, AND SHOULD ABANDON EFFORTS TO PLACE INTERCEPTORS IN SPACE.