British Prime Minister announced on Monday that Britain would maintain its independent nuclear deterrent, and promised to cut the number of nuclear warheads by 20 percent.

Addressing the House of Commons, Blair said that it would be " unwise and dangerous" for Britain to give up its independent nuclear deterrent in an uncertain world.

"The Government's judgment, on balance, is that though the Cold War is over, we cannot be certain in the decades ahead that a major nuclear threat to our strategic interests will not emerge," said Blair, adding "there is also a new and potentially hazardous threat" from states such as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea or Iran.

"There is a possible connection between some of those states and international terrorism," Blair said.

"In these circumstances, it would be unwise and dangerous for Britain, alone of any of the nuclear powers, to give up its independent nuclear deterrent," said Blair.

Blair said that Britain decided to acquire a new generation of nuclear missile submarines, and its stock of nuclear warheads would be cut by 20 percent from 200 to 160.

"Maintaining our nuclear deterrent capability is also fully consistent with all our international obligations." said Blair.

Blair said that Britain possessed "the smallest stockpile of nuclear warheads amongst the recognized nuclear weapons states..

"Furthermore, we have decided, on expert advice, that we can reduce our stockpile of operationally available warheads to no more than 160, which represents a further 20 percent reduction." Blair added.

Blair said the risk of a "major nuclear threat" meant it was essential to replace the Royal Navy's ageing fleet of four Vanguard class submarines.

The decision to replace its current Trident missile system had to happen now was because the current nuclear capable submarines would potentially reach the end of operational service from the early 2020s, said Blair, adding it was estimated that it would take 17 years to introduce into service any submarine-based replacement.

The estimated cost of replacing the fleet, which carries the Trident nuclear missiles, is around 15-20 billion pounds (30-40 billion U.S. dollars), said Blair.

"A new generation of submarines will make maximum use of existing infrastructure and technology. The overall design and manufacture costs - of 15-20 billions - are spread over three decades; are on average 3 percent of the defense budget; and are at their highest in the early 2020s." said Blair.

On Monday, the British government also published the White Paper on the nuclear deterrent - The future of the United Kingdom's Nuclear Deterrent, which is ready for a full debate in Britain. And a vote on this issue in the House of Commons is expected in March, 2007.

Britain has maintained an operational nuclear deterrent since 1956. Currently, Britain has a sea-base nuclear weapons system: the Trident D5 missile on board four Vanguard class submarines.

Source: Xinhua