HL Deb 22 January 1998 vol 584 cc264-5WA
Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether NATO's new strategic concept will be available before NATO enlargement is presented for ratification to NATO governments and parliaments.

Lord Gilbert

Recommendations based on the forthcoming examination of NATO's strategic concept will be presented to NATO heads of state and government when they next meet in Washington in 1999. By that time it is expected that the process of ratifying the protocols relating to the accession to NATO of the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland will have been completed.

Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What strategic concept for NATO has been guiding the assessment of the military and financial implications of NATO enlargement. [HL100]

Lord Gilbert

NATO's approach to enlargement has been guided by Article 10 of the North Atlantic Treaty and by current NATO decisions and policies including the 1991 strategic concept.

Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether NATO's strategic concept is being reviewed; if so by whom, and guided by what criteria; and whether a wider range of expert and experienced advisers will be consulted than was the case with the original NATO enlargement document. [HL99]

Lord Gilbert

As directed by NATO heads of state and government at Madrid last July, NATO defence and foreign ministers at their meetings last December agreed terms of reference for an examination, and update as necessary, of NATO's strategic concept to: (i) ensure that the strategic concept is fully consistent with NATO's new security situation and challenges; (ii) confirm the allies' commitment to the core function of alliance collective defence and the indispensable transatlantic link; (iii) preserve those aspects of the strategic concept that are consistent with the existing and foreseeable strategic environment and other NATO decisions and declarations since 1991; (iv) take account of the changes in the European security environment since 1991; and (v) take into account the internal and external adaptation of the alliance and its assumption of new roles and missions, including all relevant ministerial decisions since 1991, while recognising that the process of transformation is an ongoing one and that the alliance must be prepared to meet the risks and challenges of the future. NATO's policy co-ordination group will begin work, taking into account advice from the NATO military authorities and other relevant NATO bodies, later this year for presentation to NATO heads of state and government when they next meet in Washington in 1999.