WMD Proliferation and Transatlantic Relations: Is a Joint Western Strategy Possible?

Dealing with the threat of the proliferation of weapons of mass-destruction (WMD) tops the strategic agenda on both sides of the Atlantic. Keeping these dangerous weapons out of the hands of terrorist adds to the urgency to find a common transatlantic strategy to keep doomsday scenarios at bay. Obviously, political disagreements between Washington and many of its European allies complicate reaching such a shared policy agenda. The US is bent on following a course of counterproliferation which emphasizes the use of (military) force, questions the utility of international institutions, and reserves the right for itself to act unilaterally. Europe, on the other hand, remains faithful to a more traditional non-proliferation agenda, arguing that strong and effective treaties and regimes are essential to limit the spread of WMD. Even in the recently adopted EU Security Strategy, the use of military force is considered an option of last resort, if any.

In this Clingendael paper, Peter van Ham argues that although the US and Europe approach WMD-proliferation differently, a joint Western policy is not only necessary, but also possible. This paper sketches the contours of such a cooperative transatlantic strategy in which US-EU teamwork and a central role for NATO are essential elements. The author makes numerous suggestions on how such a transatlantic consensus may be reached.

Dr Peter van Ham is Deputy Head of Studies at the Netherlands Institute of International Relations ?Clingendael? in The Hague and Professor at the College of Europe in Bruges (Belgium).