Written question asked by Lord Judd (Labour) on Monday, 12 March 2018, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Monday, 26 March 2018. It was answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Conservative) on Monday, 26 March 2018 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

USA: Nuclear Weapons

Question: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the statement by the German Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sigmar Gabriel, that the "US administration decision to develop new tactical nuclear weapons shows that the spiral of a new nuclear arms race has already been set in motion".

Answer: This is not our analysis. The US Nuclear Posture Review, published on 1 February, makes clear that the US has continued to reduce the number and salience of nuclear weapons, while others, including Russia and China, have moved in the opposite direction. The Review also makes clear that US decisions to modify a small number of existing warheads to provide a low yield option and, in the longer term, to pursue a new sea-launched cruise missile, are intended to enhance deterrence and to counter any perception of an exploitable gap in US capabilities.

Secondary information