UK move to lift nuclear cap is ‘insurance policy,’ says minister

Britain’s foreign secretary has defended plans to lift Britain’s cap on its stockpile of nuclear warheads.

Dominic Raab said the move — expected to be outlined Tuesday in a long-awaited review of security, defense, development and foreign strategy — gives the U.K. the “ultimate insurance policy” against “hostile states.”

The U.K. is reportedly planning to lift the current cap from 180 to 260 warheads, ending a post-Cold War trend towards gradual disarmament.

Raab cited potential Iranian nuclear proliferation as one of the reasons to increase British stockpiles.

Pressed to justify the decision on the BBC’s Today program, Raab said: “Because over time as the circumstances change and the threats change, we need to maintain a minimum credible level of deterrent. Why? Because it is the ultimate guarantee, the ultimate insurance policy against the worst threat from hostile states.”

His comments came as Prime Minister Boris Johnson prepared to unveil the findings of his sweeping review of Britain’s global policy, which is expected to focus on a pivot towards Asia following Britain’s departure from the EU.

When pressed on the most immediate threats to Britain, Raab expressed concern over the use of chemical weapons and a growing danger of cyberattacks — “not just people’s individual bank account … but also critical national infrastructure.”