Increased threat of nuclear war: Lords to debate International Relations Committee report
On Tuesday 16 July the House of Lords will debate the International Relations Committee's report Rising nuclear risk, disarmament and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which was published on 24 April.
The report concluded that a rise in international tensions has increased the chance of nuclear weapons being used, in particular due to the breakdown in dialogue between Russia and the West since 2014. The causes of this increased risk include a more multipolar world, the development of new nuclear capabilities,the major growth of cyber warfare technologies, irresponsible rhetoric, and serious lack of clarity by nuclear-armed states about when they might use their weapons.
The Government responded to the Committee's report on 26 June. It said that ‘the security environment is increasingly uncertain'.
Former chairman of the Committee Lord Howell of Guildford will open the debate. Other members expected to speak are:
- Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Minister responding)
- Baroness Anelay of St Johns
- Lord Browne of Ladyton
- Lord Collins of Highbury
- Lord Grocott
- Lord Hannay of Chiswick
- Lord Purvis of Tweed
- Baroness Smith of Newnham
An updated list can be found here.
Ahead of the debate former chairman of the House of Lords International Relations Committee Lord Howell of Guildford said:
“Deteriorating relationships between nuclear armed states, combined with the rapid development of revolutionary new technologies, have made the risk that nuclear weapons could be used greater than it has been since the Cold War. Global progress towards disarmament has stalled and past confidence that progress in these deeply dangerous fields was assured is no longer justified. The Committee's report called on the Government to pursue all avenues to increase transparency and understanding, and restore trust, between nuclear states and all parties to the Non-Proliferation Treaty, now coming up for review.
“The Committee continues to urge the Government to use the 2020 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference as an opportunity to push for an increase in dialogue and transparency between the nuclear possessor states, bolster nuclear non-proliferation efforts, and for the Nuclear Weapon States to show a demonstrable commitment to disarmament.”
