Air sampling sensors, the Open Skies Treaty, and verifying the Chemical Weapons Convention
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Authors
Rowe, Gregory D.
Subjects
Advisors
Wirtz, James J.
Lavoy, Peter R.
Date of Issue
1995-12
Date
December 1995
Publisher
Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School
Language
en_US
Abstract
This thesis examines a novel proposal to join two separate arms control measures to achieve unique counterproliferation benefits. The Open Skies Treaty (OST) is a confidence-building measure between the states of NATO and the former Warsaw Pact. It allows aircraft equipped with sensors to overfly neighboring countries to monitor security-related activities. The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) attempts to eliminate an entire category of weapons of mass destruction. It is verified through reporting procedures and on-site inspections. OST overflights could be used to verify the CWC, aiding CWC inspectors to plan their inspections. This cross-treaty measure could be enhanced further with the addition of air sampling sensors capable of testing for chemical weapons production, creating inter-treaty synergy. Once these two pacts enter into force and prove their efficacy for arms control, this proposal for inter-treaty coordination will receive more attention. Obstacles for this inter-treaty coordination include the lack of formal mechanisms in either treaty for a complementary role and the lack of political impetus to effect it. This coordination is a logical progression for arms control.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
National Security Affairs (NSA)
Organization
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
NA
Format
81 p.
Citation
Distribution Statement
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.