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Replacing Trident nukes within NPT framework, UK insists

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

London, Mar 31, IRNA – The British government has denied that any plans to replace the country’s nuclear warheads would be in breach of the Non-Proliferation Treaty because other powers have also refused to disarm.

“I believe that it certainly would be within the framework of the non-proliferation treaty. The NPT did not require unilateral disarmament on the part of the United Kingdom,” Defence Secretary John Hutton said.

“We are able to maintain very properly within the terms of the NPT our minimum nuclear deterrent; and, yes, I believe that there should be a vote in this House before such a decision was taken,” Hutton told parliament in a written reply published Tuesday.

The minister was being challenged on initial estimates of the costs for the possible refurbishment or replacement of the warhead for Britain’s future nuclear deterrent capability following its decision to replace the submarine-based missile system by 2024.

He repeated that no decision had yet been taken on replacing the warheads, but was questioned on whether any expenditure on developing a new warhead would be subjected to approval by MPs.

“We have not yet made a decision to develop a new UK nuclear warhead. However, work is being undertaken to inform decisions, likely to be taken in the next Parliament, on whether and how we might need to refurbish or replace our current warhead,” Hutton said.

Eminent lawyers as well as peace campaigners have repeatedly accused the government that the replacement of Trident is likely to constitute a breach of article VI of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Under article V1, Parties to the 1970 Treaty undertake to “pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear arms race at an early date and to nuclear disarmament, and on a Treaty on general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control.”