Why interstate arms collaborations fail: The commitment-implementation paradox in the context of NATO BMD

Steered by the promise of technological, economic, and security gains, states seek partnerships to build, purchase, and operationalize military technology. Yet, these collaborations do not always yield the desired results. This is due to a commitment-implementation paradox, meaning that the conditions that make it attractive for states to join an interstate arms collaboration are those that make it difficult for them to implement the project. Concretely, the paradox exists along three dimensions: (1) the balance of power, (2) the project’s goals and (3) the level of coordination. I explore the existence of this paradox in NATO’s pursuit of missile defenses.