Title The future of the UK's co-operative nuclear relationships / Hugh Chalmers and Malcolm Chalmers

Published London, United Kingdom : Royal United Services Institute, 2013

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Description 1 online resource (21 pages) Series Royal United Services Institute occasional paper Royal United Services Institute occasional paper Contents Introduction. -- The future of the UK's nuclear force. -- Nuclear co-operation: then and now. -- The dynamics of the UK's nuclear relationships. -- The future of the UK's co-operative nuclear relationships. -- Conclusion. -- Notes and references. -- About the authors Summary The UK's longstanding co-operative nuclear relationship with the US has enabled it to contain some of the costs of maintaining an independent nuclear force. Several important decisions on the future of this force are due to be taken soon, both on plans for a new generation of missile submarine, and on the possible replacement of the UK's nuclear warhead. Historical experience suggests that such junctions in the UK's nuclear evolution can be an opportunity to realise further cost savings by expanding the UK's co-operative nuclear relationships. This paper argues, however, that significant expansion of the UK's nuclear relationships is now unlikely. The government's commitment to maintain a credibly independent force (one that could, hypothetically, operate without foreign assistance for an extended period of time) limits the extent to which it can further increase technical dependence on the US or France. The commitment of the UK, US and France to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty limits options in relation to sharing of nuclear warheads. The uniquely constrained shape of the UK nuclear force, with only one warhead type on one delivery system, further reduces the options for cost-saving collaboration Notes "June 2013." Bibliography Includes bibliographical references (pages 15-21) Notes Online resource; title from PDF title page (RUSI, viewed July 21, 2013) Subject Nuclear weapons -- International cooperation Nuclear weapons -- Great Britain -- Planning Military planning -- Great Britain Military planning. Military relations. Nuclear weapons -- International cooperation. SUBJECT Great Britain -- Military relations Subject Great Britain. Form Electronic book Author Chalmers, Malcolm Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies

Other Titles Future of the United Kingdom's co-operative nuclear relationships

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