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UK insists French deal 'not affect' independence of nuclear deterrent

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

London, Nov 16, IRNA -- The British government has denied that its recent Declaration on Defence and Security Cooperation with France affects the independence of the UK’s nuclear deterrent or its defence relations with the US.

Defence Minister Lord Astor said that the deal, signed earlier this month, states that the UK and France decided to collaborate in the technology associated with nuclear stockpile stewardship in support of our respective independent nuclear deterrent capabilities.

“This will be in full compliance with our international obligations through unprecedented co-operation at a new joint facility at Valduc in France that will model performance of our nuclear warheads and materials to ensure long-term viability, security and safety,” Astor said.

He said that the declaration also states that the UK and France want to enable our forces to operate together, to maximise our capabilities and to obtain greater value for money from our investment in defence.

“This does not affect the independence of the UK's nuclear deterrent,” the minister said in a written parliamentary reply published Tuesday.

In a separate answer, Health Minister Earl Howe also denied that the new 50-year military accord with France would impact on Britain’s special relations with the US.

“The UK-France Defence and Security Co-operation treaty will increase the capability of both our Armed Forces, making us more capable members of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and allies of the US,” Howe said.

“The treaty is therefore complementary to a strong UK-US defence and security relationship,” he told fellow peers in the House of Lords.

Last week, Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt was also forced to deny that the nuclear cooperation with France breaches the Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT).

“The arrangement with the French is entirely consistent with our obligations under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. It is designed to ensure that we safeguard the reliability and maintenance of our nuclear weapons stockpile, and it makes sense,” Burt said.

Following the signing of the cooperation agreement, the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) warned the UK government on its compliance with Article One of the NPT, which expressly forbids transfers in relation to nuclear explosive devices.

“It is vital that this treaty is scrutinised in the light of Article 1. But the fundamental point that both Britain and France have to recognise and act upon is that the NPT - to which they are signatories - requires both of them to disarm,” CND chair Kate Hudson said.