Problem
Imbalance in strategic arms
Other Names:
Unequal strategic arms capabilityInternational strategic instability
Missile gap
Nature:
In the military confrontation between superpowers, due to the ease with which information on the military capability of one power may be misrepresented by the other in an effort to obtain resources to develop its own capability. Any evidence of inequality of capability becomes a threat to international peace and security and may gravely disturb the balance of power.
Incidence:
The INF treaty bans intermediate-range missiles from the countries of NATO and the former Warsaw Pact, while the rest of the world can still deploy them. The most ambitious notion is a worldwide Missile Non-Proliferation Treaty. It is clearly anomalous that nuclear, chemical and biological weapons - which is to say, the most feared missile warheads - are all controlled by international treaties, whereas the likeliest delivery means, the missiles themselves, are not. The problem with all these schemes is that none appears to be negotiable.
Broader Problems:
InstabilityInternational insecurityInadequate control of weapons of mass destruction Aggravates:
Chemical warfareImbalance of powerIrresponsible policy-makingCompetitive acquisition of armsProliferation of strategic nuclear weaponsMissile proliferation Strategies:
Proliferating strategic nuclear armsUsing deterrenceBalancing strategic armsUnbalancing strategic armsStabilizing international strategies Subject(s):
Defence → ArmsSocietal Problems → Imbalances
Societal Problems → Instability
Strategy → Strategy
Related UN Sustainable Development Goals:
Problem Type:
D: Detailed problems Date of last update
06.01.2021 – 20:34 CET