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Now that Washington is potentially an unreliable ally, the UK needs to revisit its nuclear strategy

 The Trump administration’s volatile approach to its allies has forced
the UK to reconsider fundamental pillars of its defence policy, including
whether it can rely on the US. This extends even to the UK’s nuclear
deterrent, with many questioning whether the UK needs a nuclear weapons
system that is less dependent on the US for maintenance and support.

Unlike most US allies in NATO, the UK is officially a nuclear weapons state, and
therefore less reliant on Washington’s nuclear extended deterrence
guarantee. It has its own nuclear weapons system, Trident, which is based
in Britain and ostensibly operates independently. However, Trident is
closely linked to the US’s nuclear programme, raising concerns about its
independence. The missiles are US-built, and the system relies on the US
for maintenance.

 Chatham House 24th March 2025 https://www.chathamhouse.org/2025/03/uks-nuclear-deterrent-relies-us-support-there-are-no-other-easy-alternatives

March 28, 2025 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | weapons and war