NATO and Ballistic Missile Defense

A joint communique released by NATO at its summit in Bucharest, Romania, on April 3 acknowledges both the contribution to the alliance of U.S. efforts outside NATO to place ballistic missile defense (BMD) installations in Europe and the continuing threat of ballistic missile proliferation. This marks both an endorsement for Washington's BMD efforts and a sign of more expansive ballistic missile defense efforts within the alliance.