Amid Trump’s Pressure, UK Urged to Pursue Full Nuclear Independence: "SLBMs Should Also Be Developed Domestically"

The UK possesses nuclear warheads and submarines,
but relies on the U.S. for Trident SLBMs
Liberal Democrat Leader:
"Cannot entrust security to the hope that there will not be another Trump"

As U.S. President Donald Trump continues to pressure Europe on security, there have been calls for the United Kingdom to establish an independent nuclear force, given that the UK's nuclear deterrent is heavily reliant on the United States.

Ed Davey, Leader of the UK Liberal Democrats. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

According to the BBC on March 15 (local time), Ed Davey, leader of the centrist Liberal Democrats, the UK's second-largest opposition party, argued that the UK should develop its own nuclear missiles in order to reduce its defense dependence on the United States.

The United Kingdom holds operational control over its nuclear arsenal, which includes 225 nuclear warheads. However, the submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) known as "Trident," which carry these warheads, are part of a system developed by the United States.

In his speech at the party's spring conference, Davey stated, "As the UK prepares to replace Trident in the 2040s, the billions of pounds required should be invested in the UK, not the United States," emphasizing the need to build a truly independent nuclear deterrent.

The UK was the third country in the world to develop nuclear bombs and has operated a nuclear-powered submarine-based strategic nuclear force since the 1960s. Currently, its Vanguard-class strategic nuclear submarines are equipped with Trident missiles developed by the United States.

Although the authority to launch Trident missiles rests with the British Prime Minister, there have been persistent concerns about the UK's nuclear force being dependent on the United States, since the missiles themselves are manufactured in the U.S. and their maintenance and servicing are also carried out there. Davey stressed, "We cannot entrust our national security to the hope that the U.S. will not produce another Trump," and reiterated the necessity of establishing an independent nuclear deterrent.

However, the British government maintains that its nuclear force is sufficiently independent. A spokesperson for the UK Ministry of Defence stated, "An independent nuclear deterrent is the ultimate guarantee of the UK's security," adding, "Our modernized nuclear force is central to UK defense and contributes to the security of NATO."

The BBC noted that developing its own nuclear missiles would require costs far exceeding the current budget for the Trident replacement program. At present, only the UK and France maintain independent nuclear forces in Europe. Unlike the UK, France has established a fully independent nuclear force. Recently, President Emmanuel Macron of France proposed expanding his country's nuclear arsenal and temporarily deploying nuclear-capable fighter jets to allied nations.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.