WASHINGTON - Anti-nuclear campaigners have condemned Trump's plans to expand the role of nuclear weapons, expected in his forthcoming Nuclear Posture Review.



Kate Hudson, CND General Secretary, said:



"This dangerous new policy expands the role of nuclear weapons in US foreign policy and makes nuclear war more likely. If it includes, as reports indicate, a plan to develop two new types of nuclear weapons - a low-yield version of the Trident D5 warhead and a sea-launched cruise missile - the weapons will be deemed more 'usable' and nuclear war will be more likely. The review also includes new scenarios for when nuclear weapons would be used to respond to non-nuclear attacks. This is a hostile and provocative development and will be understood as such by other states.



"It should be noted that the US Trident D5 missile is used on the submarines of Britain's Trident nuclear weapons system. The UK government must clarify its position on this development and must reject this catastrophic drive to 'usable' nukes.



"Donald Trump's Nuclear Posture Review comes after last month's publication of the US National Security Strategy (NSS) that was littered with references to nuclear weapons and a belligerent approach to North Korea, which was referenced seventeen times. Both the NSS and the soon-to-be-published Nuclear Posture Review reflect Trump's seeming obsession with nuclear weapons and nuclear war. It really is time for the British government to wake up and condemn these moves that present an increasing danger to life on this planet."

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