United Kingdom
The United Kingdom has the world's fifth largest nuclear arsenal. In 2022, it again demonstrated that it lacks the will purposefully to pursue nuclear disarmament. It remained unwilling to adhere to or engage constructively with the TPNW
TPNW Status
| Nuclear warhead inventory at the beginning of 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Total inventory of warheads | 225 | |
| Retired warheads | 0 | |
| Warheads available for use | 225 | |
| Estimated yield (MT) | 22.5 | |
| Hiroshima-bomb equivalents | 1500 | |
| TPNW Article 1(1) prohibitions: Compatibility in 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|
| (a) | Develop, produce, manufacture, acquire | Non-compatible |
| Test | Compatible | |
| Possess or stockpile | Non-compatible | |
| (b) | Transfer | Compatible |
| (c) | Receive transfer or control | Non-compatible |
| (d) | Use | Compatible |
| Threaten to use | Compatible | |
| (e) | Assist, encourage or induce | Non-compatible |
| (f) | Seek or receive assistance | Non-compatible |
| (g) | Allow stationing, installation, deployment | Compatible |
| TPNW voting and participation | |
|---|---|
| UNGA resolution on TPNW (latest vote) | Voted no (2023) |
| Participated in 2MSP (2023) | No |
| 1MSP delegation size (% women) | N/A |
| Adoption of TPNW (7 July 2017) | N/A |
| Participated in TPNW negotiations (2017) | No |
| Negotiation mandate (A/RES/71/258) | Voted no |
| Other weapons of mass destruction (WMD) treaties | |
|---|---|
| Party to an NWFZ | No (4 of 5 NSA protocols) |
| Party to the NPT | Yes (Ratified 1968) |
| Ratified the CTBT | Yes (Ratified 1998, Annex 2 state) |
| Party to the BWC | Yes (Ratified 1975) |
| Party to the CWC | Yes (Ratified 1996) |
| IAEA safeguards and fissile material | |
|---|---|
| Safeguards agreement | Voluntary offer agreement |
| TPNW Art 3(2) deadline | N/A |
| Small Quantities Protocol | No |
| Additional Protocol | Partial |
| Enrichment facilities/reprocessing plants | Yes (Civ) |
| HEU stocks | 23 MT (incl 22 MT available for weapons) |
| Plutonium stocks | 3.2 tons (Mil)/116.1 tons (Civ) |
Latest developments
In the First Committee of the UN General Assembly in October 2022, the United Kingdom, in a joint statement with France and the United States, stated that ‘Progress on the nuclear disarmament agenda is only possible if we were to have an incremental, inclusive, consensus-based, multilateral process that takes into account the prevailing international security environment.’1
In January 2022, an early-day motion marking the first anniversary of the TPNW’s entry into force was tabled in the UK Parliament. It expressed regret ‘that the United Kingdom is neither a signatory of or a party to the Treaty’ and called on the UK government to ‘take urgent steps to comply with the provisions of the Treaty’.2
In June 2022, the then First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, reiterated her commitment to ensure that an independent Scotland would adhere to the TPNW, arguing that its possible membership of NATO should not serve as an impediment.3 In March 2022, the Welsh Senedd passed a motion calling on all states to sign and ratify the TPNW.4
Recommendations
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The United Kingdom should acknowledge that nuclear deterrence is not a sustainable solution for its own or international security, and that any perceived benefits are far outweighed by the risk of nuclear accidents or war.
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The United Kingdom should comply with its existing obligation under Article VI of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), and pursue negotiations in good faith on nuclear disarmament.
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The United Kingdom should urgently adhere to the TPNW. Until it is in a position to do so, it should welcome the TPNW as a valuable component in the global disarmament and non-proliferation architecture, work with the Treaty's states parties on practical steps towards disarmament, and attend the meetings of states parties as an observer.