Annex 2: Exchange of letters between the
Prime Minister and the President of the United States of America
Letter from the Rt Hon Tony Blair MP, Prime Minister,
to the Honorable George W Bush, President of the United States
of America
The United Kingdom Government attaches great importance
to the maintenance of its independent nuclear deterrent capability,
both as a means of ensuring the security of the United Kingdom
and our vital interests, and as an important element of our contribution
and commitment to the North Atlantic Alliance.
We have therefore to set in train the steps necessary
to maintain our current submarine-based nuclear deterrent system,
replacing those elements—in particular the submarines—that
will reach the end of their planned life by the 2020s.
Following the agreement reached in an exchange of
letters between the United Kingdom and the United States Governments
in 1982 under the framework of the 1963 Polaris Sales Agreement,
our current Vanguard class submarines have carried the Trident
II D5 missile since they began to enter service in 1994. We have
decided that we will replace the Vanguard submarines with another
class of submarines in the 2020s, and would like these submarines
to continue to carry Trident II D5 missiles.
Accordingly, we wish to participate in the planned
life extension programme for the Trident II D5 missile, which
we understand is intended to extend the life of the missiles into
the 2040s. We also seek assurance that, in support of those missiles,
the United States will provide us, under the framework of the
Polaris Sales Agreement, as amended for Trident, with sufficient
equipment and supporting services to equip a force of new SSBNs.
I propose that, as in the past, these matters be taken forward
by the executive agencies of the two Governments to ensure mutually
satisfactory solutions.
For the longer term, we need to be assured that we
can, if we so choose, maintain a nuclear delivery system, with
US assistance, for at least the remainder of the life of our successor
submarine force. In this respect, the United Kingdom wishes to
ensure that any successor to the D5 system is compatible with,
or is capable of being made compatible with, the launch system
for the D5 missile, which we will in the meantime be installing
into our new submarines. We believe that there would be merit
in the United Kingdom having the opportunity to participate, at
an early stage, in any programme to replace the D5 missiles, or
to discuss a further life extension—for UK purposes—of
the D5 missile, to match the potential out of service date of
our new submarines. I propose that, as in the past, close coordination
should be maintained between the executive agencies of our two
Governments in order to ensure the compatibility of equipment.
We wish also to maintain our cooperation under the
1958 Agreement for Cooperation on the Uses of Atomic energy for
Mutual Defence Purposes ("Mutual Defence Agreement").
In addition, I believe that this programme has the potential to
open up new opportunities for future cooperation and collaboration
on other aspects of future submarine platforms, and we would wish
our respective experts carefully to consider where this might
be of mutual benefit.
As has been the case in the past with the Polaris
force, and is currently the case with our Trident force, we intend
that a future UK deterrent submarine force equipped with Trident,
and any subsequent successor to Trident, will be assigned to the
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation: and except where the United
Kingdom Government may decide that supreme national interests
are at stake, this successor force will be used for the purposes
of international defence of the Atlantic Alliance in all circumstances.
7 December 2006
Letter from the Honorable George W Bush, President
of the United States of America to the Rt Hon Tony Blair MP, Prime
Minister
Thank you for your letter regarding modernizing
your independent nuclear deterrent. The United States Government
continues to attach great importance to the maintenance of an
operationally independent nuclear deterrent capability by the
United Kingdom and values the deep and long-standing cooperation
between our two countries in this area.
The United States Government accordingly welcomes
the steps outlined in your letter to maintain and modernize the
UK's capability in this area for the longer term. We also attach
importance to, and welcome, your intention to continue to assign
this force to NATO.
The 1958 Agreement for Cooperation on the Uses of
Atomic Energy for Mutual Defence Purposes ("Mutual Defense
Agreement") and the 1963 Polaris Sales Agreement have provided
a strong, enduring basis for cooperation between our two countries.
We believe that these two agreements, the terms of which are not
affected by this exchange of letters, will continue to provide
a solid basis for ensuring mutually satisfactory cooperation in
those areas where you have requested assurances. I can reaffirm
the US commitment to support the missile system and associated
equipment deployed by the United Kingdom under the terms of these
agreements.
In this context, the United States fully supports
and welcomes the intention of the United Kingdom to participate
in the life-extension program for the Trident II D5 missile. We
will work to ensure that the necessary components of the overall
system are made available to the United Kingdom to support life-extended
D5 missiles, under the framework of the Polaris Sales Agreement
and the 1982 Exchange of Letters. I fully agree with your suggestion
that, as in the past, these matters be taken forward by the executive
agencies of our two governments to ensure mutually satisfactory
solutions.
For the longer term, in accordance with your proposal
and under the framework of the Polaris Sales Agreement and the
1982 Exchange of Letters, I would invite the United Kingdom to
participate, at an early state, in any program to replace the
D5 missiles or to discuss a further life extension—for your
purposes—of the D5 missile to match the potential out-of-service
date of your new submarines. In this respect, any successor to
the D5 system should be compatible with, or be capable of being
made compatible with, the launch system for the D5 missile, which
you will be installing into your new submarines. The United States
will also ensure under the framework of the Polaris Sales Agreement
and the 1982 Exchange of Letters that the United Kingdom has the
option to sustain an effective nuclear delivery system for at
least the life of your successor submarine force as was done with
the Polaris system. Again, I agree with you that, as in the past,
close coordination should be maintained between the executive
agencies of our two governments in order to ensure compatibility
of equipment.
I agree that we should maintain our cooperation under
the 1958 Agreement for Cooperation on the Uses of Atomic Energy
for Mutual Defense Purposes ("Mutual Defense Agreement").
I also concur in your proposal that our two countries should also
explore the scope for cooperation and collaboration on other aspects
of future submarine platforms. We recognize the importance of
this potential collaboration and will work to ensure that further
cooperation in this area can be deepened accordingly.
7 December 2006
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