NATO Nuclear Bases

U.S. Should Seek Needs Reassessment and Increased Alliance Contributions Gao ID: NSIAD-94-84 December 23, 1993

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) can maintain a strong nuclear force and maintain broad Allied participation with fewer strike bases, and the United States may be able to cut its support costs by consolidating its nuclear bombs at fewer storage sites. NATO's most recent assessment of required nuclear capability assumes that its strike bases are vulnerable to a massive and sustained Soviet air attack. Despite the recent collapse of the Soviet Union, NATO has yet to do additional analyses to see whether fewer bases could provide enough nuclear capability. U.S. Air Forces in Europe does not follow Pentagon and Air Force regulations on implementing and monitoring Allied compliance with bilateral agreements governing support for U.S. Air Force custodial units stationed at Allied strike bases. U.S. Air Forces in Europe has failed to identify these problems in its annual evaluations of internal and administrative controls, though required by law. As a result, the United States is spending millions of dollars for facilities, equipment, and other support promised by host nations.

GAO found that: (1) NATO can maintain a credible and survivable nuclear capability and meet its allied participation requirements with fewer strike bases; (2) the United States can reduce its support costs by consolidating its nuclear bombs at fewer storage sites; (3) NATO assessment of required nuclear capability does not reflect the Soviet Union's collapse or whether fewer bases can provide sufficient nuclear capability; (4) USAFE does not follow Department of Defense (DOD) and Air Force regulations to implement and monitor allied compliance with bilateral agreements governing support for U.S. personnel stationed at allied strike bases; and (5) the United States is spending millions of dollars for facilities, equipment, and other support promised by host nations because USAFE has not sufficiently identified internal and administrative control problems.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

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