NATO Ministers Say Risks Remain, Reaffirm Need for Strong Defense

Defense ministers of the Western Alliance on Wednesday reaffirmed the need for a strong defense. They acted at the close of a two-day meeting that concerned itself mainly with the rapid changes taking place in Eastern Europe and reports of a projected reduction in U.S. troops in Western Europe.

The officials, representing the countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, said political developments in the Warsaw Pact countries have presented the West with “new opportunities” for forging a lasting peace in Europe.

But they added that potential risk is involved, because the Soviet Union has retained its military capability.

Underlying the commitment to Western defenses was uncertainty about U.S. military plans. There have been reports that in the years ahead, the Bush Adminstration will reduce by as much as two-thirds its forces in Western Europe.

Defense Secretary Dick Cheney sidestepped the issue at a press conference Wednesday by promising that the United States would make no reductions without consulting its partners in the alliance.

The reports of a U.S. troop reduction have confused some allied planners because U.S. troop levels are regarded as a bellwether of what will happen to their own defense budgets.

“It is difficult,” a Dutch official said, “for us to tell our public that we need to keep paying for defense when they hear that the United States is going to reduce its forces.”