Date

Apr 9, 1981

Description

A new presidential administration wanted to put its own stamp on nonproliferation policy and the Department of State helped begin the process with a draft paper on the "security dimensions of nonproliferation." Convinced that further spread of nuclear capabilities could have an adverse impact on U.S. security, the report emphasized the importance of perceptions of insecurity as a motive leading states to opt for a nuclear explosive program. While denial of sensitive technology and equipment remained "fundamental," State Department officials believed that a "broader bilateral relationship" based on the integration of political incentives and security assistance could persuade friendly threshold states that they did not need nuclear weapons. By contrast, "more negative methods of dissuasion" would apply to countries which had poor relations with Washington.

The State Department's review of threshold states, from Argentina and Brazil to Libya and Iraq, include a discussion of Pakistan, where the "broad bilateral relationship" approach was taken into account. The U.S. objective should be a "closer security relationship which builds confidence in us and makes the Paks feel more secure." Such a relationship would be "more likely to provide Pakistan with incentives to forego, or at least delay, a nuclear test than any alternative approach." Following the Carter administration, the Reagan team had minimal goals: preventing a Pakistani nuclear test, not dismantling the enrichment program, had become the key objective. Nevertheless, State's politico-military analysts argued that Washington should not give the impression that was acquiescing in Pakistan nuclear activity: it was necessary to "lay down a marker" by making Pakistani officials understand the "political costs" of continuing a weapons program.

Source

MDR release

Document published in following posting(s):

New Documents Spotlight Reagan-era Tensions over Pakistani Nuclear Program

Apr 27, 2012