Given the nature of networks, a vulnerability in one country can easily create a vulnerability in other countries as well. So information assurance cannot be handled on a national basis. It must be addressed collaboratively. We must continue making progress to intensify and expand the Alliance's defense initiative against biological and chemical weapons risks, which our Heads of State and Government launched at the 1994 Brussels Summit. Based on the recommendations of the Senior Defense Group on proliferation, NATO is developing the capabilities, doctrine, and plans to effectively deal with these weapons.
Much work remains to improve our biological and chemical defenses and counterforce capabilities.
In the U.S., President Clinton has personally made this an urgent priority, given the vulnerability of our forces and, especially our publics. Taken together, they represent important concrete steps towards protecting deployed NATO forces from the threats that will continue well into the 21st Century. Let me turn to the two conceptual guidance priorities essential to preparing this Alliance for its future challenges. As we shape the Alliance for the 21st Century, it is not enough merely to review our current Ministerial Guidance and annotate it here and there. We need to step back and fundamentally reassess our objectives for the development of our defense capabilities.