Britain in breach of NPT

The United Kingdom breached its strict obligations under the non proliferation of nuclear weapons treaty (NPT).

The UK and France have agreed on the use of a French laboratory to help maintain and service the UK’s 160 nuclear warheads.

Officials in both countries say that a deal to share the secrets of their nuclear programmes would boost the defence collaboration between the countries and save money at a time when their defence budgets are being cut.

The agreement ends a half a century ban on the United Kingdom sharing nuclear secrets with countries other than the United States.

This collaboration with France goes against the “unequivocal undertaking” given by the nuclear weapon states, of which Britain is part of, in the year 2000 “to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals leading to nuclear disarmament”, in accordance with their NPT obligations.