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Global issues

Weapons proliferation

Soldier sweeping for landmines. © MUSTAFA OZER/AFP/Getty ImagesThe spread of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) poses a threat to the UK and the international community. Increasingly, terrorists and criminal networks are trying to acquire these weapons.

We're working around the world to promote and implement our policies on nuclear weapons, chemical and biological weapons, conventional weapons, export controls and ambition for an arms trade treaty.

How is the UK preventing the spread of weapons?

We work closely with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and our international partners to tackle this threat.

The UK has committed up to US$750m over 10 years through our Global Threat Reduction Programme for projects which:

  • improve the security of fissile materials, dangerous biological agents and chemical weapon stocks
  • reduce the number of sites containing radioactive material
  • work towards closure of reactors still producing plutonium
  • improve nuclear safety, to reduce the risk of further Chernobyl-type incidents
  • construct facilities for destroying chemical weapons stocks
  • provide sustainable employment for former weapon scientists whose expertise could be misused.

We are currently supporting projects to:

  • dismantle nuclear submarines in North-West Russia and make safe their spent nuclear fuel
  • dispose of 34 tonnes of plutonium in Russia
  • destroy Russia's stocks of chemical weapons (a total of 40,000 tonnes)
  • create sustainable employment for former Soviet weapons scientists.

More info about this work is in our Global Partnership Fourth Annual Report PDF.

International cooperation

Anti-chemical, biochemical and radiological terror exercise, Korea. © Chung Sung-Jun/Getty ImagesThe spread of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons has been successfully limited by international arms control and disarmament agreements:

Inspections by organisations such as International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Organisation for the Prevention of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) help to enforce arms control.

Chemical and biological weapons

We're working to enforce the ban on chemical and biological weapons through international treaties and conventions.

Nuclear weapons

The UK is working to lead international efforts on nuclear disarmament, the prevention of the further spread of nuclear weapons, and working with partners to support peaceful uses of nuclear power.

Controlling the export of weapons

We're working to improve the international standard of export controls for weapons and the technology and material required to develop them.

Arms Trade Treaty

The UK supports a global Arms Trade Treaty ATT to curb the irresponsible trade and transfer of arms that are used to undermine stability, democracy, development and human rights.

Conventional weapons

We're working closely with other countries and international organisations such as the UN to develop an arms trade treaty to control the proliferation of conventional weapons.

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