UK must keep Trident, says Cameron

David Cameron has restated his commitment to renewing the Trident nuclear missile system.

Writing in The Daily Telegraph, Mr Cameron stated that despite changes in the world, “the nuclear threat has not gone away”.

“The significant new fact we have to consider is this: the number of nuclear states has not diminished in recent years – and there is a real risk of new nuclear-armed states emerging,” said Mr Cameron.

He pointed specifically towards the continuing defiance of Iran and the “highly unpredictable and aggressive regime in North Korea”.

The Prime Minster also had a message for those, including his coalition partners, who believe a cheaper option is available: “I have seen no evidence that there are cheaper ways of providing a credible alternative to our plans for a successor and I am simply not prepared to settle for something that does not do the job.” 

General defence funding also featured in the article, aiming to offer reassurance that money spent on Trident will not come at the expense of the UK’s other defence capabilities.

Mr Cameron discussed continued investment in intelligence agencies, police, the Royal Navy and the Army, saying he wanted to ensure that “our conventional forces are keeping pace with the modern threat”.

The Prime Minister also addressed multilateral disarmament, describing a world without nuclear weapons as “a fine ideal”.

However, without any such agreement, Mr Cameron wants evidence that the UK is under no nuclear threat before he would consider giving up our nuclear weapons.

Furthermore, he believes any sort of unilateral disarmament aimed at encouraging others to follow would be “an act of naivety”, and added that: “It would be seen by our adversaries not as wisdom, but weakness.”

Mr Cameron’s commitment to Trident is clear and the recent activity of North Korea will only strengthen the Prime Minister’s resolve.

Simon Wyatt