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Speaker: Dr Robert Bell, Distinguished Fellow, Center for Security, Diplomacy and Strategy (CSDS), Brussels School of Governance
Discussant: Paal Sigurd Hilde, Associate Professor, Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies
Abstract:
Dr Bell's dissertation focuses on the 11 U.S. Non-Nuclear Weapons State allies in NATO that are both equipped and eligible to assume operational roles under the Alliance’s “nuclear-sharing” arrangements, as constituted at present by the Dual Capable Aircraft (DCA) posture. The dissertation examines why 6 of the 11 have decided to opt-in on DCA, whereas 5 have elected to opt-out. It concludes that those who opt-in have not been coerced by the U.S. or NATO to do so and that participation in DCA is effectively exempted from NATO’s normal “fair burden-sharing and reasonable challenge” monitoring and enforcement mechanisms. With the notable exception of Germany, which is a special case due to its size, economic power and central geographic position in Europe, participating in DCA is widely regarded in Washington and at NATO as voluntary and discretionary. Rather than being pressured, the other 10 allies’ decisions on DCA is based on their own sovereign calculation of five specific considerations. On the “con” side, they are extra cost and domestic opposition to nuclear weapons. On the “pro” side, they are balance of threat, the nature and degree of their transatlantic alignment, and the importance they attach to status or ranking within NATO.
Speaker bio:
Dr. Robert Bell joins CSDS after a career that included assignments as President Obama’s appointee as the U.S. Defense Advisor at NATO, President Clinton’s appointee as a NATO Assistant Secretary General, President Clinton’s NSC Senior Director for Defense Policy and Arms Control, and 18 years on Capitol Hill. Dr. Bell has a BS from the U.S. Air Force Academy and a MA and PhD from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. He is currently also a Distinguished Professor of the Practice at Georgia Tech