DEFENSE DEPARTMENT RELEASES REPORT ON NATO ENLARGEMENT MILITARY REQUIREMENTS AND COSTS

Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen today released a report assessing NATO's December 1997 study on common-funded military requirements and costs for enlargement. The report, which responds to Congressional reporting requirements, also outlines likely U.S. NATO enlargement costs and explains the differences between the NATO study and the February 1997 Defense Department report on enlargement requirements and costs.

Significant conclusions cited in the report include:

• NATO's study of enlargement requirements is thorough and militarily sound. It confirms that the Alliance will be able to provide a credible, collective defense capability from the first day the new members formally join NATO. Meeting the NATO requirements will ensure that new members are integrated into the military structure of the Alliance. This will enable an enlarged NATO to respond effectively to the full range of challenges it could face in the projected security environment.

• NATO estimates direct enlargement costs paid by NATO common funds will be $1.5 billion over ten years. This reflects more recent and more complete information than the Department's February 1997 illustrative common-funded cost figures of $4.9 billion to $6.2 billion.

• The U.S. share of common-funded NATO enlargement costs will be the standard U.S. share of about 25 percent.

A copy of this report may be found at: http//www.defenselink.mil/pubs/nato/. For more information, contact Lt. Col. Steve Campbell at (703) 695-3895.