Trilateral Nuclear Dialogues
The Trilateral Nuclear Dialogues convene current and former senior officials and experts from the US, France and the UK to discuss nuclear policy issues.
RUSI co-organises the Trilateral Nuclear Dialogues in collaboration with the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and the Fondation pour la recherche stratégique (FRS). Meetings are held twice a year, rotating between the US, France and the UK. The dialogues bring together former senior officials, nuclear policy experts and government representatives from the US, France and the UK to discuss nuclear deterrence, arms control and non-proliferation policy issues. The meetings have been convened regularly since 2009.
Each year, non-governmental participants in the dialogues issue a consensus statement, reflecting their views on the range of issues discussed over the course of the year. The signatories agree to the statement in their personal capacities, which may not represent the views of their respective organisations.
Project sponsor
The project is supported by the UK Ministry of Defence
Project team
Malcolm Chalmers
Deputy Director General
Senior Management
Tom Plant
Senior Associate Fellow
Marike Woollard
Programme Manager
Military Sciences
M. Elaine Bunn
Senior Associate Fellow
Professor Beatrice Heuser
Senior Associate Fellow
David Jarvis
Senior Associate Fellow
Tom McKane
Distinguished Fellow
Sir David Omand GCB
Distinguished Fellow; Visiting Professor in the War Studies Department, KCL
Sir Kevin Tebbit KCB CMG
Distinguished Fellow
Dr Heather Williams
Associate Fellow
External partners
Rebecca Hersman, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)
Franklin Miller, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)
Bruno Tertrais, Fondation pour la recherche stratégique (FRS)
Aims and objectives
The Trilateral Nuclear Dialogues are a unique forum for frank and informed exchanges on a range of pressing nuclear policy issues. The dialogues aim to provide a forum for informed discussion for the benefit of current nuclear policymakers in the UK, the US and France. They also aim, through the publication of consensus statements, to inform the broader public about nuclear policy and highlight issues of concern.
Sir David Omand, Visiting Professor of War Studies at King’s College London, states:
"These trilateral discussions provide a unique opportunity to bring together those in the US, UK, and France who had long experience in maintaining responsible nuclear stewardship over many years with current officials who are carrying the responsibility today."
Peter Watkins, formerly Director-General in the UK Ministry of Defence responsible for strategic defence policy, and currently Associate Fellow at Chatham House, comments:
"At a time of growing risks to international stability and increasing pressure on the international arms control framework, it is more critical than ever to build political and public understanding of the achievements of arms control – not least the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty itself – and the role of credible, responsible deterrence policies. That is the essential mission of these trilateral talks."
