Thank you for your email about the current international situation and the recent threats of nuclear weapons.

Broadly, I believe AUKUS should be matched by stronger efforts to support nuclear non-proliferation arms control and multilateral disarmament. The global non-proliferation architecture has come under increasing strain in recent years with the UK reduced to being a bystander. The UK has a proud record of being a leader of global efforts to promote multilateral disarmament and I believe it is time for the Government to rediscover leadership on this issue.

However, in recent months, following the illegal invasion of Ukraine, Russia has repeatedly threatened the use of nuclear weapons and neither such threats nor his egregious breaches of human rights and war crimes, can be rewarded. 

The current situation requires responsible leaders to be careful, measured and consistent about the rhetoric we use. It also requires us to be implacably clear that any use of such weaponry would be met with a strong, special response and that the universal opprobrium which would befall Russia must make contemplation of this, including those in the Kremlin and in circumstances in which they may feel they are losing ground and losing the conflict, unthinkable.

None of us wants to see nuclear weapons used. As one of the five nuclear weapons states under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and a permanent member of the UN Security Council, Britain should be doing more to lead efforts to secure strategic arms limitation and multilateral disarmament. However, in light of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, we should also continue to work closely with NATO allies to strengthen European security in response to this ongoing conflict. For this reason, our commitment to NATO and upholding international law is unshakeable. 

I also believe that we should use our influence at the United Nations to support peace and security worldwide. And we must work with the US and NATO to underline the need for de-escalation with Russia.