The UK is considered to be one of the more forward-leaning nuclear weapons states. We are working hard to counter the continued risk of proliferation of nuclear weapons.

How is the UK promoting nuclear disarmament?

Since the end of the Cold War:

• reduced our stockpile of operationally available warheads to fewer than 160 – a 75% reduction in explosive power
• reduced the readiness of our nuclear forces - only one Trident submarine is on deterrent patrol at any one time with missiles, not targeted at any country
• Trident is now our only nuclear deterrent platform – we’ve withdrawn the RAF's WE177 freefall nuclear bomb
• signed (1996) and ratified (1998) the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT)
• made all enrichment and reprocessing facilities in the UK open to international inspection.

We are currently:

• at the Aldermaston atomic weapons establishment 
• supporting a study by the International Institute for Strategic Studies into the requirements for a world without nuclear weapons.

The UK’s nuclear deterrent

The UK Government decided to retain the UK’s minimum nuclear deterrent in 2006. The White Paper on The Future of the United Kingdom’s Nuclear Deterrent  explains the decision.

Why have we done this?

• large nuclear arsenals remain, some of which are being modernised and expanded 
• emergence of new states possessing nuclear weapons
• risk of state sponsored terrorism.

The UK’s decision to retain its submarine based nuclear deterrent has not changed our commitment to our obligations under the NPT. 

Whilst retaining the deterrent at present we committed to working towards a safer world in which there is no requirement for nuclear weapons, as outlined in these speeches:

• former Foreign Secretary, Margaret Beckett's, Carnegie speech in Washington (Jun 2007)
• Secretary of State for Defence, Des Browne's, Laying the foundations for multilateral disarmament speech at the Conference on Nuclear Disarmament in Geneva (Feb 2008).

The UK would only use nuclear weapons in extreme circumstances of self-defence and in accordance with our obligations under international law.

We've co-produced a Trident factsheet  with the  Ministry of Defence .

Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT)

The UK is a signatory of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) which has 3 pillars:

1. non-proliferation
2. peaceful uses of nuclear technology
3. disarmament.

We’ve committed to making progress in all three areas by the 2010 NPT Review Conference.

Banning nuclear tests

The UK is committed to implementing the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) which will ban ‘any nuclear weapon test explosion or any other nuclear explosion’.

We urge all countries that haven’t yet signed or ratified the Treaty to do so.

The CTBTO website has more info about banning nuclear testing.

Nuclear terrorism

Nuclear terrorism is a global threat, and requires a global response. The Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism (GICNT) brings together over 60 like-minded countries to build the capacity to combat nuclear terrorism.

The UK attends and hosts GICNT activities and expert events, such as the Anti-Nuclear Smuggling Assistance Workshop in London (Sep 2007).

The Initiative aims to build the capacity of participating nations to:

• ensure the accounting, control and physical protection of nuclear materials and radioactive substances
• detect and suppress illicit trafficking of nuclear materials
• respond to and mitigate consequences of nuclear terrorism
• co-operate in the development of technical means to combat nuclear terrorism
• deny safe haven to terrorists who wish to acquire or use nuclear materials
• strengthen nations laws to prosecute and punish terrorists and their supporters.

All GICNT work is consistent with national laws and international legal frameworks, notably:

• the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism
• the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and Nuclear Facilities
• UN Security Council Resolutions 1373 and 1540.

Nuclear weapon-free zones

The UK has signed and ratified these Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone Treaties:

• Raratonga (South Pacific)
• Tlatelolco (Latin America)
• Pelindaba (Africa)

We also support the establishment of a Central Asia Nuclear Weapon Free Zone and the Treaty of Bangkok (Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone).

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) plays a key role in supporting the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).

What does the IAEA do?

• provides the framework for safeguards agreements with States Parties to the NPT
• inspect facilities to ensure nuclear material is accounted for and not diverted to illicit nuclear weapons programmes.

How does the UK support the IAEA?

• we’re an active Board Member of the IAEA
• we have permanent diplomatic representation to the UN in Vienna
• promote the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreements and the Additional Protocol.

The UK Safeguards Office is part of the Health and Safety Executive. They work with the IAEA over nuclear safety issues in the UK.