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UK should be prepared to scrap nuclear missiles, say generals

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

London, Apr 21, IRNA -- Four former army commanders Wednesday added their voice to growing calls for a review of the government’s controversial plans to replace Britain’s nuclear missiles, questioning if it was value for money.

Field Marshal Lord Bramall, General Lord Ramsbotham, General Sir Hugh Beach and Major-General Patrick Cordingley suggested that Britain should be prepared to scrap its Trident nuclear deterrent.

“With an estimated lifetime cost of more than £80 billion ($120 bn), replacing Trident will be one of the most expensive weapons programmes this country has seen,” the retired military chiefs said.

“Going ahead will clearly have long-term consequences for the military and the defence equipment budget that need to be carefully examined,” they warned.

The decision to upgrade Britain’s submarine-based nuclear missiles is opposed by many Labour MPs, Liberal Democrats, Scottish Nationalists, religious leaders, trade unionists and peace campaign groups.

One of the latest challenges has also come from former chief of general staff General Sir Richard Dannatt, who suggested in February that the US-led drive for global disarmament could mean the UK does not need a nuclear deterrent in five years.

In a letter to the Times newspaper, the four former commanders expressed “deep concern” that the future of Trident has been excluded from plans for a Strategic Defence Review to be carried out after the general elections next month.

Given the present economic climate and “an estimated hole in the defence equipment budget of some £35 billion, it is crucial that a review is fully costed and looks critically at all significant planned defence spending,” they warned.

“The potential impact of a UK commitment to replace Trident on the international disarmament negotiations must also be considered along with its impression on other states,” their letter also said.

Their call also comes ahead of next month’s NPT Review Conference in New York, where Britain is already under pressure to include Trident in global nuclear disarmament negotiations.

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End News / IRNA / News Code 1069849