Arms for the alliance: Armaments cooperation in NATO

Abstract

Armaments cooperation is required to ensure the efficient use of NATO defense resources. Because of political considerations, however, armaments cooperation will not lead to all of the benefits proclaimed by some of its proponents. Since several countries desire to maintain defense industries for both economic and military reasons, defense production will not occur on a purely economic basis. Those forms of cooperation which are politically acceptable result in reduced economic benefits. By recognizing the limitations and trade‐offs associated with armaments cooperation, realistic objectives can be set which will prevent expectations from being so high that actual results discourage further efforts.