Her Majesty’s rusty tridents

Remember when debates about nuclear deterrence, mutually assured destruction, and ICBMs dominated Western politics? British politicians are enjoying a brief fit of nostalgia as Tony Blair pushes the government to update its old Trident missile system. Labour Party diehards are livid, and another government official just resigned on principle. Meanwhile, Greenpeace protesters are ratcheting up ...

By , a professor at Indiana University’s Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies.

Remember when debates about nuclear deterrence, mutually assured destruction, and ICBMs dominated Western politics? British politicians are enjoying a brief fit of nostalgia as Tony Blair pushes the government to update its old Trident missile system. Labour Party diehards are livid, and another government official just resigned on principle. Meanwhile, Greenpeace protesters are ratcheting up the rhetoric.

Remember when debates about nuclear deterrence, mutually assured destruction, and ICBMs dominated Western politics? British politicians are enjoying a brief fit of nostalgia as Tony Blair pushes the government to update its old Trident missile system. Labour Party diehards are livid, and another government official just resigned on principle. Meanwhile, Greenpeace protesters are ratcheting up the rhetoric.

The Greenpeace campaigners clambered up the crane next to Big Ben and unfurled a 50ft banner suggesting the prime minister "loved" weapons of mass destruction. Armed with telephones to lobby MPs, the campaigners plan to occupy the spot until the parliamentary debate takes place tomorrow. One of the activists on the crane, Cat Dorey, said: "Trident is a cold war relic designed to destroy Russian cities. If MPs buckle under pressure from Tony Blair and vote to renew it, the repercussions will be felt around the world. We can't oppose proliferation of WMD if we're building them at home."

Parliament will vote on the measure tomorrow, and it is widely expected to pass, but expect some fireworks—and perhaps a few more resignations—in the House of Commons.

David Bosco is a professor at Indiana University’s Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies. He is the author of The Poseidon Project: The Struggle to Govern the World’s Oceans. Twitter: @multilateralist

More from Foreign Policy

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping give a toast during a reception following their talks at the Kremlin in Moscow on March 21.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping give a toast during a reception following their talks at the Kremlin in Moscow on March 21.

Can Russia Get Used to Being China’s Little Brother?

The power dynamic between Beijing and Moscow has switched dramatically.

Xi and Putin shake hands while carrying red folders.
Xi and Putin shake hands while carrying red folders.

Xi and Putin Have the Most Consequential Undeclared Alliance in the World

It’s become more important than Washington’s official alliances today.

Russian President Vladimir Putin greets Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
Russian President Vladimir Putin greets Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

It’s a New Great Game. Again.

Across Central Asia, Russia’s brand is tainted by Ukraine, China’s got challenges, and Washington senses another opening.

Kurdish military officers take part in a graduation ceremony in Erbil, the capital of Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, on Jan. 15.
Kurdish military officers take part in a graduation ceremony in Erbil, the capital of Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, on Jan. 15.

Iraqi Kurdistan’s House of Cards Is Collapsing

The region once seemed a bright spot in the disorder unleashed by U.S. regime change. Today, things look bleak.