Missile Defense, Deterrence and Arms Control: Contradictory Aims or Compatible Goals?; UNIDIR/2002/4

vi, 38 pages. Acronyms. Format by 5.75 inches by 8.25 inches. Wilton Park is an executive agency of the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office providing a global forum for strategic discussion. It organizes over 50 events a year in the UK and overseas, bringing together leading representatives from the worlds of politics, business, academia, diplomacy, civil society and media. Events focus on issues of international security, prosperity and justice. Meetings provide a neutral environment where conflicting views can be expressed and debated openly and calmly, allowing acceptable compromise and resolution to be achieved. It encourages innovation in global thinking by provoking lively debate and promote inclusivity among the policy makers and opinion formers. Discussions are non-attributable to encourage frank exchanges and open dialogue. This report reflects on the discussions at a UNIDIR meeting in February 2001 on missile defense, deterrence and arms control. The meeting looked at political, technical, national and regional perspectives on missile defenses and paid specific attention to the implications of the latter for arms control and international security. In this paper, the author also discusses issues of treat assessment, response, technical aspects of missile defense and arms control treaties and arrangements.…