Dual-Track Decision

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The Dual-Track decision of 1979 was a NATO strategic decision concerning nuclear missile deployment which it was hoped would reduce nuclear arsenals for both sides in the Cold War.

NATO announced its intention to eventually deploy US short- and medium- range nuclear missiles in Western Europe, in response to the presence of similar Soviet nuclear missiles in Eastern Europe. However, the NATO decision was dependent on the presence of the Soviet missiles, the removal of which would result in the non-deployment of, or removal of, the NATO missiles.

It was hoped that this decision would encourage the Soviet leadership to reduce nuclear arsenals, knowing that NATO would respond in the same way. However, many vocal critics feared that the move would in fact escalate the arms race.

The NATO decision, in 1979, planned the deployment of these nuclear missiles in Europe for 1983. This is indeed what happened, provoking controversy known as the "Euro-missile crisis". In 1987, the USSR and the USA agreed upon the 1987/8 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. This treaty led to the end of the Dual-Track strategy and the removal of both Soviet and NATO nuclear missiles.

This INF Treaty was very benficial for Western Europe in that it reduced Cold War tensions and the risk of nuclear war in Europe. Nonetheless, the INF Treaty was controversial in Western Europe, since Western European governments played little part in the discussions that led to the treaty, despite being greatly affected by the presence of nuclear missiles in Europe.