1988 Brussels NATO summit

Background

In this period, the organization faced unresolved questions concerned whether a new generation of leaders would be as committed to NATO as their predecessors had been. Generational change in the leadership of the Soviet Union brought Mikhail Gorbachev to the international stage; but NATO leaders were increasingly uneasy about how to respond to his personable qualities. British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher counseled that it was probably a good idea to "do business" with him, but other NATO leaders were uncertain about what Gorbachev's openness might be hiding. These fears were minimized by the Soviet announcement that troops were going to be withdrawn from Afghanistan. The unilateral withdraw of 500,000 troops and 10,000 tanks from Eastern Europe sent an unmistakable message of change.

Agenda

The general discussions focused on the need for a reaffirmation of the purpose and principles of the Alliance. Other informal meetings explored what NATO's posture should be in its objectives for East-West relations.

Accomplishments

The summit's work was directed towards adoption of a blueprint for strengthening stability in the whole of Europe through conventional arms control negotiations.

Notes

References

• Thomas, Ian Q.R. (1997). The Promise of Alliance: NATO and the Political Imagination. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield. ;

References

1. NATO. "NATO summit meetings".
2. Thomas, Ian Q.R. (1997). [https://books.google.com/books?id=mwYQSw00m8EC&dq=NATO+and+Brussels+summit+1974&pg=PA101 ''The promise of alliance: NATO and the political imagination,'' p. 101.]
3. Thomas, [https://books.google.com/books?id=mwYQSw00m8EC&dq=NATO+and+Brussels+summit+1974&pg=PA130 p. 130.]
4. Thomas, [https://books.google.com/books?id=mwYQSw00m8EC&dq=NATO+and+Brussels+summit+1974&pg=PA143 p. 143.]
5. Thomas, [https://books.google.com/books?id=mwYQSw00m8EC&dq=NATO+and+Brussels+summit+1974&pg=PA142 p. 142.]