LONDON — The British government stressed that the United States remains a “reliable ally,” amid questions in London about the future of the country’s jointly-maintained nuclear deterrent under Donald Trump.
“The U.K. has a long standing, close relationship with the U.S. on all defense nuclear issues,” Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s spokesperson told reporters Thursday.
“Long-term arrangements provide the cooperation and collaboration which has been and continues to be a considerable mutual benefit to both nations,” they added.
The comments come after defense analysts told the Times of London that Trump’s sharp pivot away from Europe, as he tries to end the Ukraine war, called into question the future of the U.K.’s £3 billion-a-year Trident program, which relies heavily on U.S. cooperation to keep running.
Britain has operational control over its Trident nuclear arsenal. But the missiles, loaded on to four nuclear submarines, are U.S. manufactured, and jointly-maintained by the U.K. and U.S. They are subject to periodic refurbishing by the U.S.
It has prompted some experts in London to warn that, as Trump’s administration places curbs on intelligence-sharing with Ukraine and pulls back from European security, the U.K. may need to make contingency plans.
Nicholas Drummond, a defense industry analyst, told the Times it was “extremely unlikely” the U.S. would cut off U.K. access to Trident missiles, because such a move would mark a “strategic betrayal on a grand scale that would damage him and America.”
But he warned: “When it comes to support and maintenance, I would say that we are largely dependent on the U.S. for parts and technical assistance. If this was withdrawn, it would also weaken our deterrent.”
He said any refusal by the U.S. to supply Trident missiles in the future would be a “terrifying thought,” and added: “Anyone who suggested this a year ago would have been dismissed as an idiot. Now it is a scenario that we need to plan for.”
Britain is already working on a replacement for the aging fleet of Trident-armed Vanguard submarines, with MPs in 2016 voting to renew the program and press ahead with newer so-called “Dreadnought”-class ballistic missile submarines over the coming years. Defense suppliers Rolls Royce and BAE Systems are working on that project.
Asked what would happen with Trident in the event of an unreliable United States, Starmer’s spokesperson said Monday: “The prime minister has been absolutely clear. The U.S. is a reliable ally. It’s our closest ally on defense and security and that relationship endures and continues to do so.”
The spokesperson added: “Obviously, the prime minister sees the U.K.’s national security as a primary function of his role as prime minister.
“But I repeat: Our relationship with the U.S. on defense, security and intelligence remains inextricably entwined, and we have a long-standing close relationship with them, facing back many, many years.”
Noah Keate contributed to this report.
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