'Keeping Trident nukes in UK interests'
Iran Press TV
Tue Jul 1, 2014 1:21PM GMT
A British cross-party commission has voted in favor of keeping the Trident nuclear missile system, saying nuclear weapons could deter threats to UK's security.
The Trident Commission, comprising mainly of former ministers, diplomats and generals, has published a 43-page report after a three-year study, saying Britain should renew its Trident nuclear weapons system to prevent security threats in the future.
"If there is more than a negligible chance that the possession of nuclear weapons might play a decisive future role in the defence of the UK and its allies in preventing nuclear blackmail, or in affecting the wider security context within which the UK sits, then they should be retained," the report noted.
The report highlighted the re-emergence of Russia as a potential threat.
Experts say the decision will disappoint anti-nuclear campaigners.
The activists cite the contradiction in preaching other countries into destroying their weapons of mass destruction, but opting to keep Britain's nuclear arsenal.
The Trident fleet consists of four nuclear submarines which are based in Scotland.
The UK government is due to make a final decision in 2016 regarding the renewal of the outdated program.
The cost of keeping the four submarines, plus missiles and warheads, is estimated at nearly three billion pounds a year between 2016 and 2062.
This is while the Ministry of Defence said it is committed to building four new nuclear submarines after 2016 to replace its ageing fleet.
Critics say Trident is outdated and its renewal is out of touch with voters.
A recent poll carried out by ComRes for WMD Awareness charity indicates that only 33 percent of over-35-year-olds believe the UK weapons system should be renewed while support among those between 18 and 35 is even lower at 19 percent.
GMA/NN/SL
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