ABSTRACT
Libya's decision to abandon its nuclear project was the direct result of secret negotiations conducted by the governments of Libya, the United Kingdom and the United States. This chapter examines the regime's decision to forego the nuclear option and begins with the 'official' views put forward by the three governments directly involved in the negotiations. The key aspect of the Libyan case was the self-serving nature of the decision dictated by the core interests of the regime. The British government's public reaction to Libya's announcement emphasised the role of diplomacy and negotiation. While the official American perspective acknowledged the importance of diplomacy and Libya's desire to rejoin the international community it emphasised the contribution of the Bush administration's national security strategy particularly its robust approach to countering proliferation. The combined effect of the unilateral American embargo and multilateral UN sanctions had a significant impact on Libya's economy.
