ABSTRACT
The special features of tactical nuclear weapons are that they have a shorter range and are less powerful than strategic weapons. The greatest threat of nuclear escalation was presented by the high concentration of tactical nuclear weapons in Central Europe. During 1990-1991, the vortex of political events in the Soviet Union, in European politics, and in Soviet-American relations caused serious difficulties and frustrations in the arms control process. In spite of very high levels of TNF deployments in Europe, the US leadership has been pushing since 1988 for modernization of the arsenal to compensate for the liquidation of medium and shorter range missiles on the continent in accordance with Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty of 1987. In May 1989 at the Brussels session of the NATO Council it was declared that TNF talks might begin after substantial reduction of Warsaw Pact’s conventional forces in the context of the CFE-1 Treaty.
