LONDON, Sept. 13 (Xinhuanet) -- Britain still faces a long-term external nuclear threat and has to plan on that basis, British Defense Secretary John Reid told The Guardian in an interview published on Tuesday.

    Reid gave in the interview the first indication of government thinking about whether the country will replace its independent nuclear deterrent, one of the most controversial decisions of this parliament.

    The decision has to be taken in the parliament, possibly in the next two years, Reid said.

    Asked if Britain would face a nuclear enemy in 15 years, Reid said, "The decision is never an easy one, and I think recent history teaches us it is impossible in most cases to predict where your enemy will come from."

    "Nobody, or very few, foresaw the invasion of the Falklands or that Saddam (Hussein) would invade Kuwait," he noted.

    Reid added that while Britain has already done everything to minimize its nuclear deterrent, "it is the case that others have been trying to develop and in some cases have developed their nuclear weapons."

    He cautioned against the view that just because new threats of international terrorism occurred, the old threats would necessarily disappear. "They may change," he said.

    "My track record and that of the government on nuclear weapons -- maintaining while ensuring it is the minimum -- is one for all to see, as well as being a good one," he added.

    Reid stressed that any new deterrent would not breach the nuclear nonproliferation treaty and would not necessarily represent an increase in the size of the deterrent.

    Reid promised an open debate in the country on the issue.

    "It is a matter of political practicality. In the course of the next four years this decision will take place. It will inevitably be more public than such decisions in the past," said Reid.

    Faced by accusations that he has secretly made the decision to spend up to 20 billion pounds (about 36 billion US dollars) on the replacement, Reid insisted, "It is not a decision about which I have received any advice, papers, options or made any decisions."

    He warned that regardless of any decision, spending would have to be tightened, with greater European coordination on procurement. Enditem