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Launch of the Trident Commission’s concluding report

BASIC set up the Trident Commission in 2011 as an inquiry into Britain’s nuclear weapon policy. Its final report, published today, represents the collective views of the eight Commission members after engaging in an intense three-year process. The primary purpose of this report is to contribute to an informed and deeper debate on Trident renewal that focuses on national security in its widest sense. We are experiencing rapid strategic change in this century and the relevance of our major defence investments to tomorrow’s threats must be analysed across a wide range of considerations.

Throughout the three-year process, the Trident Commission focused on three critical questions in particular, under a national security framework:

  1. Should the United Kingdom continue to be a nuclear weapons state?
  2. If so, is Trident the only or best option for delivering the deterrent?
  3. What more can and should the United Kingdom do to facilitate faster progress on global nuclear disarmament?

The final conclusions of the Trident Commission can be found here:

The Commission’s conclusions were informed by a range of contributions, submitted evidence, and background briefings, some of which are being published today alongside the final report and can be found here:

BASIC has a clear mandate to promote global nuclear disarmament, and has tended to publish opinions in the past highly critical of the British government and of positions similar to those expressed in this report. However, our model of change and approach is centred around finding ways to build constructive engagement between individuals with diverse perspectives in order to find commonalities and areas where we can make progress. We stand resolutely by the publication of the Trident Commission’s final report as a valuable contribution to the debate in this country at this crucial moment in the renewal cycle. We expect it to stimulate a deeper level of debate within the national security frame that is highly relevant to national decision-makers.

That being said, BASIC today also publishes its own interpretation of the Commission’s concluding report, which can be found here:

For more information, please visit the Trident Commission webpage.

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“BASIC’s depth of knowledge and administrative competence makes it an excellent partner in the field of military nuclear capability and arms control”

Sir Jeremy Greenstock, GCMG British diplomat

“At a time when transatlantic relationships are under tension, BASIC's role as a source of authoritative analysis is more important than ever.”

Baron Rees of Ludlow Astronomer Royal

“BASIC makes a vital contribution to sustaining recognition that nearly 35 years after the end of the Cold War nuclear weapons continue to put at risk the future of humankind. BASIC is especially to be commended for doing this by fostering dialogue and understanding.”

Peter Jenkins CMG UK Ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency 2001-06

``For about 35 years, in the pursuit of nuclear disarmament, BASIC have championed the cause of mutuality of security. Their ability to engage diversity of views and opinion has attracted deserved admiration.``

Baron Browne of Ladyton Vice Chairman, Nuclear Threat Initiative and former UK Secretary of State for Defence

``For more than three decades, BASIC has challenged conventional thinking on national security matters, and inspired new ways of addressing and solving old problems. I expect it to continue to play this vital role for decades to come.``

Andreas Persbo Director, Open Nuclear Network
Contact

If you would like to contact individual members of our team, you can find our email addresses on the staff page.

+44 20 3488 6974

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