The 1978 Washington summit was the 5th NATO summit bringing the leaders of member nations together at the same time. The formal sessions and informal meetings in Washington, D.C. took place on May 30–31, 1978.^[1] This event was only the fifth meeting of the NATO heads of state following the ceremonial signing of the North Atlantic Treaty on April 4, 1949.^[2]

Background

In this period, the organization faced unresolved questions concerned whether a new generation of leaders would be as committed to NATO as their predecessors had been.^[2]

Synopsis

• Meeting with participation of Heads of State and Government^[3]
• Long-term trends in east–west relations
• Berlin and Germany
• Review of CSCE implementation at Belgrade
• Achievement of NATO Science Committee, 20th Anniversary
• Need to strengthen South Eastern flanks
• Concern at continual Warsaw Pact expansion of offensive capabilities
• SALT
• MBFR
• Leaders of States participating in NATO integrated defence approve LTDP and call for follow-through action by national authorities.