In American Hands: Britain, the United States and the Polaris Nuclear Project 1962?1968

This article examines the diplomatic and military relationship between the US and UK on the Polaris nuclear deterrent. It takes the 1962 Nassau agreement as its starting point and explores both ?working level? co-operation between the two navies and diplomatic developments in London and Washington up to the launch of the first British Polaris missile in 1968. The article contends that, although the British faced a ?deterrent gap? during these years, the agreement on Polaris was extremely beneficial in the medium to long term, providing a credible deterrent and significant diplomatic weight in negotiations with the US and other NATO allies.