Legal implications of United States ballistic missile defense systems

Following the extensive use of ballistic missiles in the 1991 Persian Gulf War, there has been a renewed emphasis within the United States to develop and deploy anti-ballistic missile defenses. This thesis examines whether the current ballistic missile defense programs of the United States comply with the limitations imposed by the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty between the Soviet Union and the United States. The thesis begins with a review of the development of ballistic missiles and the systems designed to defend against them. Next an analysis of the ABM Treaty is offered, including its differing interpretations. The Treaty's legal restrictions are then applied to current ABM defensive systems in various stages of research and development. The thesis concludes with an examination of the various lawful possibilities to modify the restrictive provision of the Treaty.