TFPD Transatlantic Foreign Policy Discourse (TFPD)  
 

  A Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik Project 


Introduction
Working Groups

Past Working Groups 2002-08

  Post-Conflict Management
The Role of Islamists
State's Economic Role
Transatlantic Security
  China's Rise
Russia, USA and the EU
Military Transformation
Iran
Balkans Politics
EU Enlargement
States at Risk
Military Co-operability
Middle East
Meetings & Reports
Publications
Partners Organizations
Contacts
 

 

Ensuring Transatlantic Military Co-operability in an Era of Growing Economic Competition or How to Handle the Technology and Capability Gap (2002/03)

 

arrow Meetings & Reports

Group Leader:
arrow Joachim Rohde

Key SWP Participant:
arrow Dr. Jens van Scherpenberg

 

arrow Publications

arrow Partner Organizations:
American Institute for Contemporary German Studies (AICGS); SAIS Center for Transatlantic Relations


Multinational military operations in virtually all aspects of warfare have played an increasingly prominent role in international security policy since the end of the Cold War. As leading NATO-allies transform their militaries with new technologies, doctrine, and organizational structures, their ability to operate effectively in coalition military operations is altered. The expanding rift in military capabilities between the United States and its European allies is widened by diverging budget trends, and prospects for joint military activity are also undermined by the varying speeds that the military organizations need to transform.

If Europe improved its military crisis management and the United States loosened unnecessary restrictions on technology transfer, the rift in military capabilities could be dramatically reduced. However, a transatlantic dialogue must first address differing conceptual orientations about: future risks and threats; the definition of military tasks and required capabilities; the potential role of new technologies in military tasks and capabilities; necessary defense industrial and technology policies for bridging the gap. Arms co-operation, which involves equipment sharing, holds the potential foundation for interoperability and co-operability within the transatlantic alliance. Thus this dialogue should culminate in a discussion about the central impediments to arms co-operation, especially concerning divergent defense technology transfer and export control policies.
 

 

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