Join the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) for a debate on whether or not the U.S. should continue to expand European missile defenses for NATO. This is the first in a debate series on a range of nuclear challenges and policy decisions the Trump administration will face in 2017. 

The current approach to European missile defenses emerged prior to the conclusion of the agreement to limit Iran’s nuclear program (JCPOA) at a time when missile threats from beyond the European theater dominated the European Security landscape. Since that time, much has changed, including the Russian annexation of Crimea and finalization of the JCPOA nuclear deal with Iran. This shifting security landscape has returned the spotlight to European missile defenses—but views on the way forward diverge sharply. While some call for expanded missile defenses to bolster assurances to NATO partners, others call for pausing the program before a new site is built in Poland as a means to deescalate tensions with Russia. Thomas Karako and Frank Rose will present arguments in favor of expanding U.S. missiles defenses for NATO, and Joseph Cirincione and Philip Coyle will argue against.