ABSTRACT
The concept of the very early use of nuclear weapons gave way within NATO in 1967 to the strategy of Flexible Response. Since Europe is the theatre where the major armed confrontation has persisted and to which most military resources have been devoted, it seems appropriate to look first at how concepts have been developed there. Worth particular notice are three neutral or non-aligned nations, Sweden, Switzerland and Yugoslavia, who have all used national mobilization as the basis for their defence. It is impossible to set conventional concepts other than in the context of nuclear weapons in such theatres as Europe and perhaps in the future in others too. This chapter has not attempted any discussion of naval warfare except in its projection role, as an adjunct to the land battle. The role of conventional forces is then anything from a trip-wire to a strong barrier, to raise the level of deterrence and the nuclear threshold at the same time.
