tridentreplacement.net

The United Kingdom's Nuclear Deterrent: current and future issues of legality

An independent, authoritative legal opinion from top international law expert Philippe Sands QC, showing that the renewal, replacement, upgrading and sub-strategic use of the UK's Trident nuclear deterrent may breach Article VI of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), the UN Charter and international humanitarian law. The opinion draws on the 1996 decision of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the legality of nuclear weapons, the NPT and public statements by the UK government on the use and justification of its nuclear weapons.
Philippe Sands QC, Helen Law
Matrix
http://www.greenpeace.org.uk

Rabinder Singh QC, Prof. Christine Chinkin, Matrix Chambers

The Maintenance and Possible Replacement of the Trident Nuclear Missile System
Introduction and Summary of Advice

1. We are asked to advise Peacerights on the legality under international law of the United Kingdom's actions with respect to the Trident nuclear missile system. The question on which our advice is sought is whether the UK is in breach of international law through maintenance of the Trident system or the replacement of that system by one with a similar yield. More specifically advice is sought on (i) whether Trident or a likely replacement to Trident breaches customary international law and (ii) whether the replacement of Trident would breach the Non-Proliferation Treaty 1967 (NPT), article VI.

2. In our opinion, for the reasons which are set out below:
(1) The use of the Trident system would breach customary international law, in particular because it would infringe the "intransgressible" requirement that a distinction must be drawn between combatants and non-combatants.

(2) The replacement of Trident is likely to constitute a breach of article VI of the NPT.

(3) Such a breach would be a material breach of that treaty.
http://www.peacerights.org/reports/195

Mutual Defence Agreement and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
Peacerights, BASIC and the Acronym Institute for Disarmament Diplomacy

Joint advice on whether the UK is in breach of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty by its renewal of the Mutual Defence Agreement with the USA.
Rabinder Singh QC, Professor Christine Chinkin, Matrix
http://www.peacerights.org