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Blair Confirms Decision This Year On UK Nuclear Weapons
London (AFP) Jun 28, 2006 Prime Minister Tony Blair confirmed Wednesday that a decision on whether to replace Britain's Trident nuclear deterrent will be taken "later this year". Challenged by main opposition Conservative leader David Cameron during his weekly question period in parliament, Blair said an independent nuclear deterrent was an "essential part" of Britain's national security. "The decision will be taken later this year," he added, refusing however to specify whether it would be put to a vote following a promised "fullest possible debate" in the House of Commons. Previously, the government has said that a decision to update or replace submarine-launched Trident missiles would be made before the end of the current parliament in 2010. Last Thursday Blair's finance minister and heir apparent, Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown, told a business audience in London that he was in favour of keeping Britain's nuclear deterrent. It was put in place in the 1980s by then prime minister Margaret Thatcher, when the Soviet Union -- and not elusive global terrorist groups such as Al-Qaeda -- was seen as the primary security threat. It is based on four Royal Navy submarines fitted with US-built Trident missiles which are due to become obsolete in the 2020s. One of the submarines is always on patrol but the missiles are no longer pre-targeted. Replacing the deterrent is likely to cost anywhere from 10 billion to 25 billion pounds (14.6 billion to 36.4 billion euros, 18.6 billion to 46.1 billion dollars), observers say. Critics say the end of Trident's useful life should be an opportunity for Britain to make good on the disarmament committments by the world's nuclear powers in the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Source: Agence France-Presse Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com Learn about missile defense at SpaceWar.com All about missiles at SpaceWar.com Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com
EU Warns Iran Not To Play For Time On Nuclear Offer
Moscow (AFP) Jun 28, 2006The European Union warned Iran on Wednesday against delaying a response to a proposal on resolving the international standoff over the country's controversial nuclear programme. "Iran should not play for time and we expect Iran to come back soon to the Vienna package," the European Union's external relations commissioner, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, said during a visit to Moscow. "Iran has to show it is serious about it." |
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