ABSTRACT
A conventional equilibrium at a lower level—however desirable and however it could increase crisis stability in Europe—would in itself not be enough to raise the perceived level of risk to deter a possible aggressor. To establish stability between NATO and the Warsaw Pact, given the conventional disparities and the geostrategic asymmetry, conventional forces must be linked to nuclear forces. For the West, the goal of future conventional arms control negotiations is to strengthen stability and security in Europe from the Atlantic to the Urals. The fundamental problem of Europe's security is the conventional superiority of the Warsaw Pact and its invasion capability. Efforts of NATO to strengthen its conventional defense are in pursuance of the political objective to avoid an early recourse to nuclear weapons. Effective deterrence and a credible defense must for the near future be based only on a balanced and effective spectrum of nuclear and conventional options.
