The Dual Track Decision: the European Dimension

Abstract

The case for the Dual Track Decision (DTD) was advanced by NATO for reasons of high policy and of principle. It embodied a notion of collective action by the Atlantic Alliance in the name of European security. Its provisions were two-fold: The deployment in Western Europe of 108 US Pershing II intermediate range ballistic missiles (IRBM) and 464 Tomahawk ground launched Cruise missiles (GLCM) in response to Soviet deployment of SS-20 IRBMs targeted at Western Europe, while simultaneously engaging in negotiation for reduction or elimination of these sytems. At the end of 1983 negotiations with the Soviet Union were broken off and full deployment of US systems were gradually implemented. This situation then led to heightened East—West tensions until early in 1985 when both super-powers agreed to negotiate arms control agreements with respect to strategic and intermediate missiles.