Over the years I’ve generally believed that the UK was right to have its own independent first with Poseidon, then with Trident. Spending a number of years in the Royal Navy only added to that belief.
However, as time and world events have moved on, such as the fall of the Berlin wall and the subsequent end of the cold war, I’ve slowly come to the conclusion that the UK does not really need this type of expensive defense tool in today’s very different world.
Without sounding like many of the comments I seen over recent months and years, I agree that this type of deterrent would not have protected us from the IRA terrorist’s, the recent London bombings and of course the USA nuclear deterrent did not protect them from the 9/11 atrocity. Having a nuclear deterrent does put you in the ‘big boys’ club; but at what cost?
From my European point of view, the threat that was in the form of the USSR has gone and with each addition of the former eastern countries to the EU it recedes even further. Of course there is what’s left of the USSR in the form of Russia, but from that point of view, I am more concerned about terrorists obtaining a weapon to hand deliver than Russia firing one at the UK.
As far as I can see, any ‘missile’ threat could only come from further a field in the form of Iran/Korea or even China! With regards to Iran/Korea, they still seem to be years away from a viable long-range delivery weapon and I think that in the end Iran will be thwarted by Israeli intervention! Korea does raise another question, but again I firmly believe that the USA will not let Korea come online and provided that China does not object, that will then only leave China itself!
Do we want to believe that China would want to preemptively attack the UK with a nuclear strike? I am not sure what that would achieve.
Am I wrong to want to give up the UK’s nuclear deterrent? No, I think it would cost too much money and take too long to replace and requiring yet another replacement in another 20 years. The money would be better spent on UK infrastructure projects such as improving water distribution and UK security projects such as protecting the UK for further terrorist problems.
I intend to keep an eye on this subject, just so I can see how our MP’s give in to the biased information that no doubt will be laid before them, as to the threats that are out there, that require a Trident replacement.
Tags: Nuclear deterrent, Royal Navy, Poseidon, Trident,
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