The British nuclear deterrent after the Cold war / Nicholas K.J. Witney ; prepared for the United States Air Force.

Format:

Book

Government document

Author/Creator:

Witney, Nicholas K. J.

Contributor:

United States. Air Force.

Project Air Force (U.S.)

Rand Corporation.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Nuclear weapons--Government policy--Great Britain.

Nuclear weapons.

Deterrence (Strategy).

Europe--Politics and government--1989-.

Europe.

Physical Description:

xv, 128 pages

Place of Publication:

Santa Monica, CA : RAND Corporation, 1995.

Summary:

The Trident nuclear-deterrent program is one of the United Kingdom's largest-ever military acquisitions. Planned and initiated during the Cold War, it is now coming to fruition at a time when the most obvious justification for it--the Soviet threat to Western Europe--has disappeared. With the money largely spent or committed, Britain's continuance as a nuclear-weapon state until well into the twenty-first century seems certain. But with what point and purpose? This report examines the history, the underlying issues, the policy options, and the risks related to redefining a rationale for Britain's nuclear-deterrence program. The author reviews the role the United States has played in the development of Britain's nuclear policy and discusses how a new rationale might affect U.S.-U.K. relationships.

Contents:

Introduction Old rationales and new attitudes The potential for friction A catalyst for denuclearization? A deterrent of new threats? A "Eurodeterrent"? Some policy implications Afterword Appendix A: Britain, France, and the costs of nuclear independence Appendix B: "Mininukes."