Europe ‘needs nuclear deterrent capability’

Press, 10 October 1984, Page 21

Europe ‘needs nuclear deterrent capability’

PA Wellington Europe needs a credible nuclear deterrent capability, says a West German foreign affairs expert, Dr Konrad Seitz, who is visiting New Zealand. Dr' Seitz, who is head of policy planning staff at the Foreign Office of West Germany, was speaking to the Wellington branch of the

Institute of International Affairs.

He said intercontinental nuclear missiles, with the capability of destroying entire cities or countries, were no longer a credible deterrent because neither side would gain any advantage from their use. Intermediate missiles however, such as the Pershing II and cruise, which could be used in a limited nuclear confrontation, were credible deterrents. ' Their positioning in Europe meant that the Soviets knew that even if they launched a conventional attack, they faced the prospect of a limited nuclear war being fought on their territory without the United States being affected. Dr Seitz said that although he did not believe a limited nuclear war would remain limited, it still had credibility as a deterrent.

Detente of the mid 70s had not been the success that was hoped. During the time of detente America

had weakened and the Soviets had taken advantage of it to move on Third World nations and build up both conventional and nuclear superiority in Europe. “The Soviets spent an enormous amount of money on their arms build up, but when the balance sheet was looked at it would be shown thpt the build-up was a mistake,” he said. “Europe does not assume that the build-up was because of any intent by the Soviets to invade Europe, but we do assume that they wanted to use their military superiority on political levels.” Dr Seitz said the Soviet superiority put them in a position of being able to blackmail Europe into submission. It had been a mistake because it had reawakened the American giant, created fear in Japan, and resulted in the deployment of the Pershing missiles in Germany.