NATO is in the throes of a review of its deterrence and defence posture. BASIC and ICDS organised a roundtable on NATO’s nuclear deterrence policy in Tallinn on 15th March.
Modernisation
The technology requires four fully-armed submarines to provide Britain’s nuclear deterrent
The UK Defence Secretary, Dr Liam Fox, argued against the cut in submarines on BBC Radio Scotland last night. He maintained that the UK requires all four submarines to provide a continuous at sea deterrent (CASD); and that to reduce that number reduces the United Kingdom's ability to deploy that deterrent.
It will be too late to halt Trident’s replacement if we don’t talk now
Britain's nuclear weapons strategy will be subjected to unprecedented independent scrutiny by a group of senior defence, diplomatic, scientific and political figures who have come together to form BASIC's Trident Commission. BASIC has set up this independent, cross-party commission to examine the United Kingdom’s nuclear weapons policy and the issue of Trident renewal. The Commission will report on evidence received in early 2012.
Coalition split on post-Trident nuclear deterrent
Lord Browne of Ladyton, co-chair of BASIC's Trident Commission and defence secretary when the Blair government made its case for replacing Trident in 2007 – when it had to rely on Conservative votes – says he was not presented with sufficient facts and figures about the choices open to the government.
Nuclear weapons case to be examined by Commission
The new Trident Commission would be an “open-minded look at the issue from first principles ..… Should the UK be a nuclear power at all, and if it should, is Trident the only or best way to go about it?” proposed Ian Kearns, research director of BASIC.
British Budget Collapse Foreshadows Cuts to Come in U.S. Defense Budget
[Trident replacement would] “be easily the most expensive defense procurement project for the decade from 2015/6, sucking the finances out of other major projects.” says Paul Ingram, executive director of BASIC. To read more:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joe-cirincione/british-budget-collapse-f_b_769959.html
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Trident expected to be delayed until after next UK general election
Britain's Liberal Democrat armed forces minister, Nick Harvey, indicates that the final decision on the replacement of Trident will be delayed until October 2015 – after the next general election. This would allow the Liberal Democrats and their Conservative coalition partners to do battle over the future of the submarine nuclear missile system in the election campaign.
www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/sep/22/trident-decision-delay-expected-2015.