LONDON – Britain will increase its nuclear power supply by more than 40% to ensure its safety in a more risky global environment and as it faces new technological threats, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Tuesday.
The country had earlier reduced its stockpile of nuclear weapons, and in 2010 the government fixed a cap of 180 nuclear warheads for the mid-2020 period. Johnson scrapped the previous limit, saying the number would now rise to a maximum of 260.
Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson will visit the National Express depot in Coventry, England, on Monday 15 March 2021.
(Steve Parsons / Pool via AP)
In its security and defense review, Britain said it faces risks from nuclear-armed states, emerging nuclear states and state-backed nuclear terrorism, and that its nuclear deterrent is needed to guarantee its security and that of its allies.
“Some states are now significantly increasing and diversifying their nuclear arsenals,” the government said. “The increase in global competition, challenges to international order and the proliferation of potentially disruptive technologies all pose a threat to strategic stability.”
The move has been criticized by The Elders, a group of former global policymakers who are campaigning for peace.
LONDON INVOLVED TO DISCUSS THE POLICY AND WAKE OF SARAH FOREVER
“While the UK cites increased security threats as a justification for this move, the appropriate response to these challenges should be to work multilaterally to strengthen international arms control agreements and to reduce – not increase the number of nuclear weapons that exist,” said Mary Robinson. , chairman of the group.
Johnson questioned the policy in parliament and said Britain was still committed to the global reduction of nuclear weapons.
Britain has also said it plans to replace its current nuclear warhead with a new one that will be able to replace four new submarines under construction during the lifetime and which could come into use in the early 2030s.
It will work with the United States to ensure that the new nuclear head remains Trident-compatible.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
With its current submarines, Britain has said it will stick to its existing policy of always having one submarine of its four terrifying submarines in a row.