NATO head: Missile shield no substitute for deterrence

Oct 15, 2010, 18:37 GMT

Paris - NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen sided with France when he said Friday in Paris that an anti-missile defence system was no substitute for nuclear deterrence.

He was reacting to a disagreement between France and Germany that erupted Thursday in Brussels, during a meeting of NATO foreign and defence ministers.

The Germans had suggested that the missile shield could be used as a pretext to reduce nuclear weapons stockpiles in Europe, but France vehemently disagreed.

'I agree with France,' Rasmussen said after meeting with French President Nicolas Sarkozy at the Elysee Palace. 'The anti-missile defence system is a complement to nuclear deterrence, and not a substitute.'

These words largely echoed those of a French diplomat close to Sarkozy, who had said earlier Friday that Paris saw the missile-defence system as a 'useful' complement to nuclear deterrence, but not as a replacement.

'For us, (nuclear) deterrence remains inevitable and will remain so as long as certain countries continue to develop their nuclear arsenal or want to acquire nuclear arms,' said the diplomat, who spoke on condition that his name not be used.

Rasmussen also said that he was 'confident' that NATO would take the decision to develop an anti-missile defence system at its next summit, on November 19-20 in Lisbon.

The NATO chief said he and Sarkozy had also discussed the war in Afghanistan.

'We need more trainers ... if we want to fulfill our goals,' Rasmussen said.

He said the goal was for the Afghans to begin taking 'lead responsibility' in the conflict in 2011 and have complete responsibility by 2014.

'Afghan soldiers and police must be trained to that end,' he said.

Rasmussen said he and Sarkozy had also discussed NATO reforms and a new Alliance strategic concept 'to address new security requirements' and confront new threats, such as missile attacks, cyberattacks and terrorism.

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