Joint disarmament initiative in NATO

Norway, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg have called on NATO to support efforts to achieve a world without nuclear weapons. “Our aim is to reduce the importance of nuclear weapons in NATO’s security policy,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

The foreign ministers of the five countries presented a joint letter to the NATO Secretary General today advocating a comprehensive discussion on NATO’s nuclear policy at the Alliance’s next foreign ministers’ meeting, which will be in Tallinn in April.

“The views expressed in this joint letter correspond closely to those set out in the Government’s disarmament strategy. I am pleased that Norway has such good partners to work with in our efforts to promote disarmament,” said Mr Støre.

The letter is important input to the process on NATO’s new Strategic Concept. Norway hopes to use the review of the concept to reduce the importance of nuclear weapons in the Alliance’s security policy.

“Disarmament and non-proliferation are important security policy tools for reducing the risk of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and to ensure a more peaceful and stable world,” said Mr Støre.

The joint letter to the NATO Secretary General  (pdf)