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their
with t Americans are of particular relevance because alliance
strategy depends ultimately on the US nuclear deterrent;
co-operation on the economic front will be equally important in the
coming years. In discussing our proposed defence cuts with the
Americans we shall have to pay attention to their perception of
priorities in our efforts. They rank first our contribution to Nato
but greatly value anything we can do outside the Nato area.
44. Scarcely less important is the need for co-operation with our
European allies especially the FRG, for both political and military
Given time and the necessary political will Europe might
reasons.
be able to get better value for its defence expenditure by harmonising
R & D and procurement plans, by following these through under common
logistic backing, and by specialising. This could provide the basis
for a new defence structure should Western Europe be forced to build
one in the event of a major US disengagement.
45. The political cohesion of the Alliance no less than its defence
strategy could be endangered by actions that appeared to strike at
the root of the common perception of a political and security partner-
ship and efforts against a common threat. The Americans are under
strong domestic pressure to reduce their forces in Europe and the
Europeans must accordingly be seen to be pulling their weight if the
credibility of the US guarantee to Europe's defence, which is no less
important to European political self-confidence than to the Alliance's
military strategy, is to be maintained. Since the defection of the
French from the NATO integrated military structure, it has fallen to
us and the Germans to maintain an effective European contribution
through national efforts and European discussion, notably in the
Eurogroup. The leading role which we have played means that a major
change in British policy towards NATO would have disproportionately
severe political consequences in both Europe and the United States.
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