What are the Effects of Arms Control on Norway and Northern Waters?

• Main Author: Furnes, Reidar H.
• Other Authors: AIR WAR COLL MAXWELL AFB AL
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1990
• Subjects: Government and Political Science; Military Operations; Strategy and Tactics; *NUCLEAR WEAPONS; NUCLEAR FORCES(MILITARY); USSR; NATO; DEPLOYMENT; FORWARD AREAS; MILITARY FACILITIES; MILITARY STRATEGY; UNITED STATES; POLICIES; WATER; NAVY; SECURITY; SHIFTING; STRATEGIC WEAPONS; PROTECTION; FLEETS(SHIPS); ARMS CONTROL; NORTH(DIRECTION); STRATEGIC WARFARE; TREATIES; NORWAY; SUBMARINES; SUBMARINE LAUNCHED; LAND AREAS; SEA LAUNCHED; PENINSULAS; GUIDED MISSILES; *ARMS CONTROL; NEGOTIATIONS; DISARMAMENT; Kola Peninsula; Norway; kola peninsula
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA241091; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA241091

Norway occupies a strategic position between the two superpowers. Her close proximity to the Soviet Union and the military bases on the Kola Peninsula make her territory attractive to both NATO and the Soviet Union. Buildups of the Soviet North Fleet and the naval base on Kola and the United States naval strategy of forward deployment, have increased the activity and the importance of northern waters. This increased importance of northern waters could challenge the Norwegian security policy. Arms reduction could make Norwegian territory relatively more important for the Soviet Union to defend her interests on Kola and in northern waters and for the United States to project a threat to the Soviet interests in the area. (1) A reduction of strategic nuclear missile forces will focus on survivability. Northern waters offers excellent protection to Soviet submarines. A relative shift to SLBM could be the result of reducing the strategic nuclear missile forces. (2) The INF does not comprise sea launched intermediate nuclear missiles. Hence the elimination of land-based intermediate nuclear forces could cause a shift to sea launched nuclear missiles. START negotiations and the INF treaty could relatively increase the number of sea based strategic and intermediate nuclear forces which would relatively increase the activity and the importance of northern waters. Thus, Norway and her security policy would be affected.