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The threat of nuclear war is more serious than ever and is likely to persist for at least another decade, the government has warned.
A new Defense Headquarters document on the UK’s nuclear deterrent says that due to rising hostility from Russia, China, North Korea and Iran, “we are now in a period of heightened risk and instability and will continue into the 2030s and beyond. It is likely that this will continue.”
And in the foreword to the document, Rishi Sunak said Britain’s Trident missile system was “more important than ever” and Defense Secretary Grant Shapps warned that “nuclear risks are rising”. ing.
At a time when the risk of nuclear weapons being launched in a fit of anger increases, the UK has upgraded its four Vanguard nuclear submarines, built in the 1990s, to carry 12 Trident missiles, faster underwater movement and cutting-edge technology. mounted.
The upgrade will cost £31bn, with a £10bn contingency fund to replace the four submarines by the early 2030s.
But the paper comes just weeks after it emerged that two consecutive failed test launches of Trident missiles by Royal Navy submarines raised concerns that the deterrent force needed to be modernized. It was done.
There may also be concerns that the new Dreadnought-class nuclear submarines will not be operational for at least six years.
In his preface, the Prime Minister warned: “A state’s first duty is to protect its people, territory, economy, and interests from internal and external threats.
“For more than 70 years, our nation’s nuclear deterrent has protected our values and way of life and has been the cornerstone of our national security.
“This system has protected the UK and our NATO allies from the most extreme acts of aggression and nuclear threats by our adversaries.
“Our deterrence is now more important than ever. We face new and diverse challenges from nuclear-armed states that make deterrence as important today as it was in the last century. Masu.”
The directive document comes as Mr Sunak visited BAE Systems in Barrow-in-Furness to announce £200m of new funding for jobs and apprenticeships in both the civil and defense nuclear industries. Announced. More than £560m of additional cash will come from private companies including BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, EDF and Babcock.
In his directive, Mr Shapps said: “Nuclear risks are rising. Having illegally invaded Ukraine and broken previous commitments, Russia is using reckless nuclear rhetoric to deter other countries from sending aid.
“China is rapidly increasing the number of warheads and expanding the range of its delivery systems. And now new actors are joining these established nuclear powers.
“North Korea regularly sounds its nuclear sabers. Iran produces highly enriched uranium without providing adequate access to the International Atomic Energy Agency. We stand as a proud and responsible nuclear power. You shouldn’t be ashamed of it.
“We must now speak out more about nuclear deterrence, the people who support it, and the benefits that the nuclear enterprise brings to our society.”
Former diplomats say Donald Trump’s possible re-election as US president later this year will further increase global instability, especially as he has cast doubt on his commitment to NATO. I’m warning you.
But defense officials rejected any suggestion that the new directive document was designed to “counter Trump” the UK’s nuclear deterrent.
Britain’s Trident missile system is manufactured in the United States under a decades-old agreement.
To modernize our deterrence force, the command document states, “We continue our close partnership with our most important ally, the United States, which extends to the long-standing 1963 Polaris Sales Agreement and It is facilitated by the 1958 Mutual Defense Agreement for extensive cooperation and exchanges.” ”.
The UK will also continue its “important relationship with France, our European nuclear ally, collaborating on technology and nuclear deterrence issues”, including sharing research facilities.