<
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/08/us-support-uk-nuclear-arsenal-in-doubt-trident-france>
"Britain’s ability to rely on the US to maintain the UK’s nuclear arsenal is
now in doubt, experts have warned, but working with European states to replace
it will be costly and take time.
An existing debate about the future of Trident – Britain’s ageing
submarine-launched nuclear missile system – has taken a dramatic new turn in
recent weeks amid fears Donald Trump could pull out of Nato.
A range of concerns had already loomed over the £3bn-a-year programme, not
least around its efficiency and effectiveness after a second embarrassing
failed test launch last year.
Costs have also been a longstanding challenge but replacing Vanguard submarines
on time has been prioritised over coming in under budget.
Downing Street sought to play down concerns earlier this week after diplomatic
figures including the former British ambassador to the US Sir David Manning
floated the scenario of an end to Anglo-US nuclear cooperation.
However, calls for Britain to make alternative plans have been joined by the
former UK foreign secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind, who initiated talks in the 90s
between the UK and France on nuclear weapons cooperation.
“It really is necessary for Britain and France to work more closely together
because if American reliability ever came into question, then Europe could be
defenceless in the face of Russian aggression,” he said.
“The contribution by America must now be to some degree in doubt, not today or
tomorrow, but over the next few years and certainly as long as Trump and people
like him are in control in Washington.”"
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
