Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department is taking steps to encourage the USA and Russia to enter discussions on a new nuclear weapon treaty to replace the NEW START Treaty.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The New START Treaty is a bilateral agreement between the United States and Russian Federation; any replacement treaty is a matter for the US and Russia. The UK regularly raises issues related to strategic risk reduction, including arms control with the USA and Russia through the expert-level P5 process. Genuine and verifiable strategic arms control among the largest Nuclear Weapons States can be a positive step for global security. However, following Russia's decision to suspend participation in New START verification measures in 2023, future approaches need to be based on concrete, and verifiable actions.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department plans to raise any concerns about the text of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons with the Treaty secretariat.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 18 December 2024 to Question 18645.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department has undertaken a detailed examination of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 18 December 2024 to Question 18645.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with (a) Canada, (b) Australia and (c) New Zealand on establishing a formal diplomatic alliance between those countries and the UK.
Answered by Catherine West
The Foreign Secretary has not held any discussions about establishing a new diplomatic alliance with these countries. However, Australia, Canada and New Zealand are among the UK's closest and most-valued allies, and we continue to deepen our partnership, including through established alliances and initiatives such as the Commonwealth, 5EYES, NATO, AUKUS and G7. The Foreign Secretary speaks with his Australian, Canadian and New Zealand counterparts regularly.