Britain is to INCREASE its nuclear weapons stockpile by more than 40%

Britain is to INCREASE its nuclear weapons stockpile by 40% and warns they could be used in future if the UK faces attacks using chemical or biological weapons or nations using other ’emerging technology’

Britain is to increase its nuclear weapons stockpile by more than 40 per cent and could use them if UK is threatened by chemical or biological attacks or as-yet unknown weapons, it was revealed today.

The Integrated Review raises the limit on the number of Trident warheads that can be stored from 180 to a maximum of 260, Boris Johnson announced today.

The long-awaited policy paper  warns the UK’s enemies that it ‘reserves the right’ to defend itself against non-nuclear-armed opponents if threatened, including by adversaries with  ’emerging technologies’.

The stark warning came in a review that also warned it is ‘likely’ a terrorist organisation will launch a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) attack before 2030.

Downing Street today denied suggestions the decision to raise the cap on the UK’s stockpile of nuclear warheads breaches its international treaty obligations. 

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: ‘The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty doesn’t require us to reduce the number of warheads. All of our actions are consistent with our Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty obligations.’

The spokesman added: ‘In recent years we have seen nuclear-armed states ignore international norms. It remains the case that we believe the best way to protect ourselves and our Nato allies is to ensure that we continue to have a credible independent nuclear deterrent.

The Integrated Review, unveiled by Boris Johnson today, raises the limit on the number of Trident warheads that can be stored from 180 to a maximum of 260, an increase of 45 per cent.

Britain’s Trident nuclear deterrent is currently carried by the Royal Navy’s four Vanguard Class submarines (HMS Vanguard pictured)

The Vanguard Class can carry up to 16 missiles, each armed with up to eight Trident warheads (pictured).

 Britain’s Trident nuclear deterrent is currently carried by the Royal Navy’s four Vanguard Class submarines. 

They are due to be replaced by a new generation of four Dreadnought Class boats also armed with Trident missiles from 2030.

The Vanguard Class can carry up to 16 missiles, each armed with up to eight Trident warheads, meaning the 260 warhead ceiling would not allow them all to deploy at once.  

The Integrated Review, released today states that: The UK will not use, or threaten to use, nuclear weapons against any non-nuclear weapon state party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons 1968 (NPT).

But is adds: ‘This assurance does not apply to any state in material breach of those non-proliferation obligations. 

‘However, we reserve the right to review this assurance if the future threat of weapons of mass destruction, such as chemical and biological capabilities, or emerging technologies that could have a comparable impact, makes it necessary.’

It adds that the UK is ‘committed to maintaining the minimum destructive power needed to guarantee that the UK’s nuclear deterrent remains credible and effective against the full range of state nuclear threats from any direction’.      

The move is said to be in recognition of the ‘evolving security environment’, including the developing range of ‘technological and doctrinal threats’.

A defence command paper to be published next week will set out the detailed plans to modernise the armed forces, with a new generation of warships and fighter jets.

It will also include a major overhaul of the Army, which is expected to be cut by around 10,000 troops, with the force Challenger 2 main battle tanks reduced by a third and the Warrior infantry fighting vehicle axed altogether.

The IR says it will prioritise the development of new technologies, with a ‘digital backbone’ to enable UK forces to operate alongside allies across a range of battlespaces. 

Overall, the review says the primary focus of Britain’s security effort will remain the Euro-Atlantic region, where Russia poses the ‘most acute threat’.

However, in the face of China’s growing power and assertiveness – described as ‘the most significant geopolitical factor of the 2020s’ – there will be a new ’tilt’ towards the Indo-Pacific.

Scotland’s Justice Secretary today said the planned increase was ‘completely unacceptable’.

The SNP administration in Edinburgh wants Scotland to be nuclear free, and Humza Yousaf said: ”Nuclear weapons are morally, strategically and economically wrong. Our opposition to Trident remains unequivocal.

‘Scotland is home to one of the largest concentrations of nuclear weapons anywhere in the world, despite consistent and clear opposition from across civic Scotland and a clear majority of our elected politicians.

‘The UK Government has wasted billions on weapons that must never be used – it is lamentable that just two months after the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons came into effect, the UK Government has concluded that even more nuclear weapons are required.’   

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