| Publication |
2005.
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| Summary/Abstract |
The issue of theatre-range missile defence is approached by the Netherlands' government primarily as an issue of 'technical' adaptation of defensive capabilities against potential or already existing threats, made possible by new technologies. This approach is generally shared by parties and interest groups across the political spectrum, and this helps to explain why the issue is not controversial beyond the small circle of those who are involved in arms acquisition processes and setting priorities within the available budgets. As long as decisions in this area can be successfully framed as merely a consequence of established general policies, they can also be depoliticized. The interest of the military in this area stems from the strong desire to remain a reliable junior partner of the United States, and the decision to be one of the few countries in Europe to acquire Patriot PAC-3 systems should be seen in this light.
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