On 24 April, at the United Nations in Geneva, the British disarmament ambassador told the preparatory committee meeting for the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT|) review conference: “the UK will maintain its nuclear deterrent for the foreseeable future. But we are a responsible nuclear weapon State. We would employ our nuclear weapons only in extreme circumstances of self-defence, including the defence of our NATO Allies.” Last month, The Guardian reported that Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of Iran’s supreme national security council, told the same conference that Iran could leave the NPT if the US pulled out of the Iran deal.(“Iran threatens to withdraw from nuclear weapons treaty,”24 April). The UK’s persistently stubborn determination to remain nuclear-armed with vastly expensive WMDs despite when even the most rogue of nuclear states like North Korea are apparently prepared to give up theirs surely makes Britain an embarrassing pariah on the world stage just at a time the government claims it wants to show post-Brexit leadership.
David Lowry’s Blog 12th May 2018 read more »
