SECRET
accepted over the last three years
without undue disruption 7 m.
without significant effect on the UK contribution to NATO. Yere
operations to continue at this level the UK would have little dir-
ficulty in mounting them.
40.
However, many proposals for Priority Two commitments have
been considered during the past twelve months, but not implemented,
either because the potential emergency has receded or because the
Ministry of Defence was not, in the event, invited to undertake the
commitment. Some of these (eg the Airlift of Nigerian troops to
UNIFIL) would have had significant effects on NATO commitments.
Moreover, at no time in the past three years have two unforeseen
Priority Two Commitments involving deployment of servicemen.
arisen at the same time,
Finally, since the Guidelines (2) were
written, no commitment has arisen requiring the deployment of
forces in such large numbers as were required when Cyprus was
reinforced in July 1974. Recent operations, therefore, do not
provide a reliable indication of the UK capability to fulfil Priority
Two commitments.
POSSIBLE FUTURE PRIORITY TWO COMMITMENTS IN THE MEDIUM MERMA
(1978 1983)
POLIS
41. We consider that the developments discussed in paras 10
28 may
lead to increased demands for Non-NATO operations. On the other hand
Note:
2 COS 10/75.
A - 24