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Weapons of mass destruction (WMD) pose serious risks and challenges to the Alliance and to international security. A primary aim of the Alliance is to prevent the proliferation of these weapons or, should proliferation occur, to reverse it through diplomatic means. The Allies have taken a comprehensive set of practical initiatives to defend their populations, territory and forces against potential WMD threats.
The Comprehensive Political Guidance (CPG) – which was endorsed at NATO’s Riga Summit in November 2006 and provides an analysis of the future security environment and a fundamental vision for NATO’s ongoing transformation – explicitly recognizes the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery as well as international terrorism as major security threats. NATO has taken a broad range of measures to tackle the challenges posed by these weapons.
The Alliance stepped up its activities in this area in 1999 with the launch of the Weapons of Mass Destruction Initiative. This led to the establishment of a WMD Centre at NATO Headquarters in 2000. A Multinational Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear (CBRN) Defence Battalion – designed to respond to and manage the consequences of the release of any CBRN agent – was declared “fully operational” at the Istanbul Summit in June 2004. It has since been succeeded by a Combined Joined CBRN Defence Task Force.
The Allies are working to improve civil preparedness and consequence-management capabilities in the event of a CBRN attack, and continue to strongly support various arms control and non-proliferation regimes. The Alliance is also part of a network of cooperative relationships with many partners that are working together to prevent the spread and use of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, through dialogue and a range of practical activities
More…The use or threatened use of weapons of mass destruction significantly influenced the security environment of the 20th century and will also impact international security in the foreseeable future. Strides in modern technology and scientific discoveries have opened the door to ever more destructive weapons.
More…The North Atlantic Council, NATO’s principal decision-making body, has overall authority on Alliance policy and activity in countering WMD proliferation. The Council is supported by a number of NATO committees and groups, which provide strategic assessments and policy advice and recommendations.
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