Soviet Approaches on Nato's Northern Flank
| DOI | 10.1177/002070206502000105 |
| Date | 01 March 1965 |
| Author | Nils Örvik |
| Published date | 01 March 1965 |
| Subject Matter | Article |
Soviet
Approaches
On
Nato's
Northern
Flank
Nils Orvik*
The analysis presented
in
this
paper
is based
upon
the
assumption
that
neither
the
relaxed
atmosphere
which
followed
the
Cuban
crisis
and
the
Test
Ban
Treaty,
nor
the
shift
of
leaders
in
the
Soviet
Union
has
altered
basically
Soviet
intentions
toward
the
West.
Moscow
continues
to
foster
hopes
for
the
disintegration
of
the
Western
alliance.
What
remains
open
is
the
question
of
the
means
which
the
Soviets
could
use
for
the
fulfillment
of
their
aims
in
the
changed
circumstances.
One
reason
for
the
reduced cohesion
within
the
Western
alliance
is
claimed
to
be
the
relaxation
of
a
Soviet
threat.
Can
the
West
rest
assured
that
the
Soviet
leaders, because of
their
own difficulties
at
home and
within
the
Soviet
bloc,
will
refrain
from
making any
military
or
political
moves?
Or
are
there,
within
the
limits drawn
by
the
detente
and
the
nuclear
stale-
mate,
means
and
methods
for
actively
extending
Soviet
influence
and control? Are
all
Soviet
approaches
barred
by
unacceptable
risks
or
are
some
roads
still
open,
free
from
the restraints
of
the
present
international
situation?
These
questions
could
be
raised
with
respect
to
any
part
of
the
Western
defence
perimeter.
In
this
case,
they
will be
limited
to
NATO'S
northern
flank,
particularly
its
Northern
Cap.
The
"Cap"
is
the
area
where
Norway
borders
directly
on
the
Soviet
Union.'
Unlike
the
central
and
southern
parts
of
NATO,
the
nor-
thern
flank
has
not
been
the
scene
of
a
major
East-West
crisis.
It
has
therefore
tended
to
recede
into
the
background
of
the
strategic
debate.
Why
worry
about
a
spot where
nothing
hap-
pens?
Recent changes
in
Soviet
strategy
would
make
it
useful
to take
a
fresh
look
at
possible
incentives
for
the
Soviet
Union
to
try
to
influence
the
status
quo
of
the
area.
*
Institute
of
Political
Science,
University
of
Oslo.
1
Cf.
the
map
in
Nils
Orvik,
Europe's
Northern
Cap
and
the
Soviet
Union,
with
a
foreword
by
Henry
A.
Kissinger.
(Cambridge:
Harvard
University
Press,
Occasional
Papers
in
International
Affairs,
No.
6,
September,
1963)
p.
9.
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