Are nuclear-weapon states building new nuclear weapons and delivery systems?
Yes. The UK government has decided to replace its Trident submarines, though is offering to build three not four. President Putin said in March 2006 that “Russia must be sure that its nuclear arsenal is up to the demands of the modern world”. The United States and France also intend to keep their weapons up to date and China is believed to be developing new missiles and warheads. The Pentagon did propose a programme to develop new versions of existing smaller nuclear weapons – one of which is designed as a “bunker buster” – but Congress withdrew funding in 2005. What about other nuclear-armed states? India and Pakistan both have nuclear weapons but they are not parties to the NPT and therefore are not restricted. Israel, which is also not in the NPT, is reckoned to be nuclear-armed but it has not confirmed or denied this. North Korea has carried out a nuclear test but has withdrawn from the NPT, as any party to it can. What pressure is being put on these states? The Security Council ha
