The UK needs a so-called specialised isostatic press to maintain its nuclear arsenal, which includes the Trident II D5, the Royal Navy's ballistic missile system with a range of over 4,000 nautical miles
www.express.co.uk
Initially reported in Times of London
Belgium and the UK have become embroiled in a row after the Belgian government blocked the export of technology that is critical for maintaining the British
www.thetimes.co.uk
"Britain and Belgium are locking horns in a furious despite after Brussels blocked the export of nuclear technology that plays a crucial role in maintaining the UK's nuclear deterrent. Although both nations are part of the NATO military alliance, the federal Belgian Government refused to provide Britain with the so-called isostatic press that Britain needs to maintain its nuclear arsenal after the Belgian greens, which form part of the ruling coalition, vetoed the export." ... "Belgium’s deputy prime minister Georges Gilkinet, who is a member of the green party Ecolo and is opposed to nuclear weapons and the arms industry and blocked the export license that the UK needs after Brexit. This kind of technology is used in the industry for handling radioactive waste and is a critical part of the manufacturing process in Britain’s Atomic Weapons Establishment in Aldermaston, the site responsible for the design, manufacture and maintenance of the UK's nuclear warheads." "But military sources said Britain’s nuclear deterrent would not be at risk and can remain fully operational without the Belgian technology import. A source from the Royal Navy told The Times: 'Whilst we are aware of the ongoing challenge, the equipment does not affect the continuous at-sea deterrent.' "... "While the Ministry of Defence (MoD) argues that nuclear deterrence is needed to "preserve peace, prevent coercion and deter aggression" as "potential aggressors know that the costs of attacking the UK, or our NATO allies", critics have long called for nuclear disarmament, a stance that tends to be more popular among green parties. The UK's Green Party argues: 'The first objective of all government policy must be to provide real, sustainable security effectively. Real security cannot be based upon a balance of nuclear terror, nor upon a global domination by a group of states operating largely from self-interest.' 'Societies and their governments must instead address the real threats facing us, by engaging in ecological and socially sustainable practices, eradicating poverty, and by building trust between peoples.' "
The UK needs a so-called specialised isostatic press to maintain its nuclear arsenal, which includes the Trident II D5, the Royal Navy's ballistic missile system with a range of over 4,000 nautical miles
www.express.co.uk
