Fighter jets purchase would put UK in breach of nuclear treaty, says CND

"Britain will violate its nuclear disarmament obligations if Labour presses ahead with the 1bn purchase of 12 F-35A fighter jets, according to a specialist legal opinion prepared on behalf of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND). Two international lawyers argue that the government's plan to reintroduce air-launched nuclear weapons for the RAF will break a key provision of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT) signed by the UK and 190 other countries."

"Prof Christine Chinkin and Dr Louise Arimatsu from the London School of Economics argued that the UK would be in breach of article six of the treaty, and they accused ministers of hypocritical behaviour in broadening the country's nuclear capabilities. In a piece published before the start of Labour's annual conference, the authors wrote: The decision of the UK to purchase F-35A fighter jets rather than any other model is precisely because the aircraft can deliver both conventional and nuclear weapons' and thereby enable the RAF to reacquire a nuclear role for the first time since 1998'."

"Reinstating a nuclear role for the RAF represents a reversal of the UK's long-term commitment to nuclear disarmament, including under the NPT. Article six of the non-proliferation treaty commits the signatories to pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear arms race at an early date and to nuclear disarmament as well as to a future treaty on general and complete disarmament."

Two international lawyers conclude the planned UK acquisition of 12 F-35A jets will enable reintroduction of air-launched nuclear weapons and violate nuclear disarmament obligations. The purchase is driven by the aircraft's dual capability to deliver conventional and nuclear munitions, enabling the RAF to reacquire a nuclear role for the first time since 1998. The move would breach Article VI of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which requires signatories to pursue good-faith negotiations toward cessation of the nuclear arms race and complete disarmament. The decision highlights a contradiction between treaty commitments and renewed global nuclear rearmament. US B61-12 bombs stored at RAF Lakenheath would be made available to British jets in wartime.

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