Britain’s new nuclear submarine plans were ”disappointing in not using an opportunity to eliminate nuclear weapons”, South Africa’s Department of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday.
The United Kingdom’s current Vanguard-class submarines were reaching the end of their life, said spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa.
”It is disappointing that the UK has not used this opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to the irreversible elimination of its nuclear weapons arsenal, consistent with its nuclear disarmament obligations and commitments.
”This would have been a landmark decision, to be followed by others, to eliminate all weapons of mass destruction,” Mamoepa said.
Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported on Monday that British Prime Minister Tony Blair unveiled plans to modernise Britain’s nuclear arsenal, cutting the number of warheads, but warning that disarming would be dangerous as new terrorist threats emerge.
Plans included a new generation of nuclear submarines at a cost of up to £20-billion.
Mamoepa said the continued development of nuclear weapons and improvements to the weapons and their delivery systems remained a serious concern to the international community.
”South Africa is firmly of the view that nuclear weapons do not, in any possible way, contribute to international peace and security.”
Continued holding of nuclear weapons by countries weakened the nuclear non-proliferation regime, he said.
”[It] could serve as a logical foundation for others to also aspire to develop such capabilities.”
South Africa hoped the UK would honour its ”unequivocal undertaking” towards nuclear disarmament made during the 2000 Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons review conference, Mamoepa said.
On Monday, AFP reported that Blair had rejected concerns that by retaining Trident, Britain was in breach of its obligations to nuclear non-proliferation. – Sapa