The British Nuclear Deterrent After the Cold War
Author | : Nicholas K. J. Witney |
Publisher | : RAND Corporation |
Total Pages | : 0 |
Release | : 1995 |
ISBN-10 | : 0833016199 |
ISBN-13 | : 9780833016195 |
Rating | : 4/5 (99 Downloads) |
Book excerpt: 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.