scope:

Purpose and Scope a.

Allied Joint Publication (AJP)-3.8 provides North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) strategic and operational commanders with fundamental principles for the planning, execution, and support of NATO operations for which the threat and/or risk of intentional or accidental use of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) substances are either assessed or exist. These CBRN defence principles provide a foundation for and guide the joint force in identifying required CBRN defence capabilities. The application of these CBRN defence principles will enable the joint force commander to take appropriate countermeasures before, during and after a CBRN incident or in the framework of operations aiming at preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and defending against CBRN threats.

b. AJP-3.8 does not cover offensive actions to nullify, eliminate, or disable CBRN weapons or their delivery systems, however, the principles and capabilities described here may be employed by commanders during countermeasure operations designed to prevent CBRN incidents. They may also be used as part of the overall response to manage the consequences of a CBRN incident.

c. AJP-3.8 describes military capabilities developed according to alliance forces requirements. These military capabilities could be employed in reinforcement of or in addition to insufficient or non-existing civilian capabilities in case of CBRN incidents.

d. Although AJP-3.8 is intended for use by NATO forces, the doctrine is equally applicable to operations conducted by a coalition of NATO and non-NATO nations within the framework of a NATO-led combined joint task force or for European Union-led operations using NATO assets and capabilities.

e. Even if the primary goal of CBRN Defence is to protect against effects and recover from the consequences of a CBRN incident, the CBRN defence capabilities can provide an effective military contribution to preventing WMD proliferation. Thus, the AJP-3.8 will be a transitional document, which will be followed by a rapid development of successor doctrine that will incorporate the 3 pillars (Prevent, Protect and Recover) described in the NATO's Comprehensive, Strategic-Level Policy for Preventing the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) and Defending against Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Threats and the Comprehensive NATO CBRN Defence Concept.