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Vladimir Putin fears Britain’s nuclear deterrent, Keir Starmer mentioned today — as he got ready to start working on the Navy’s upcoming fleet of nuclear submarines.
Speaking ahead of talks today on a new ‘coalition of the willing’ to keep the peace in Ukraine, the Prime Minister said Britain’s independent nuclear deterrent made it one of the key countries able to stand up to Russia .
Asked whether he believes Putin ‘respects’ Britain’s nuclear arsenal, the PM told reporters: ‘Yes, that’s why the UK within Europe is one of the leading nations on defence and security because we’ve got our own independent deterrent and we’re committed to Nato .’
He added: ‘I think they appreciate our capability. What is obviously important is they appreciate that it is what it is which is a credible capability. And that it most certainly is.’
Sir Keir is set to visit Barrow today to initiate the building process of the new Dreadnought-class submarines, which will assume the role of maintaining Britain’s ongoing maritime deterrent in the 2030s.
He will additionally disclose that the King plans to confer upon the Cumbrian shipbuilding town the prestigious title of Royal Port of Barrow, recognizing its crucial contributions to national security.
Earlier this week, he secretly visited the team aboard one of the current Vanguard submarines when it arrived back at Faslane following a record-setting 204-day deployment at sea.
Later today, he will speak at a gathering of high-ranking military officials from approximately 30 nations to strategize the formation of a military contingent aimed at preventing additional Russian advances in Ukraine, should a peaceful resolution be reached.
The United Kingdom and France are the sole nations to openly pledge sending troops. However, governmental insiders mentioned that numerous other countries have discreetly expressed their potential willingness to do so too. Additionally, some states might offer alternative forms of assistance like logistical aid and personnel replacement.
Sir Keir proposed that the force might need to be deployed within months if Donald Trump manages to negotiate a ceasefire and convinces both Russia and Ukraine to adhere to it.
'The transition to the military planning phase indicates that this issue has surpassed typical political rhetoric and shifted towards a more militarized approach, as I recognize that events may escalate rapidly.'
'Obviously, there are many elements at play, but we must ensure we can address the query: How will you protect the agreement?'
'We must comprehend Putin's stance—that he lacks respect for an agreement lacking security provisions. This is evident as he has violated such agreements before.'
Sir Keir mentioned that he felt deeply affected after visiting the Vanguard-class submarine, which could potentially launch the UK's Trident nuclear missiles if he were ever compelled to issue such an order.
It is believed that this vessel completed the most extended maritime deployment ever recorded, with the sailors remaining without sunlight for over half a year and maintaining no communication with their loved ones throughout this period.
The Prime Minister, making their first visit to a vessel returning from a nuclear mission in 12 years, stated: “We greatly appreciate the exceptional dedication required of individuals serving at the forefront of our nuclear deterrence efforts.”
As the Prime Minister responsible for writing the final orders, meeting with the team managing our nuclear deterrence feels like a true sense of responsibility to me.
He commented, "I was deeply impressed by the crew. They have spent a considerable amount of time there without seeing daylight. Essentially, they’ve been working six-hour shifts around the clock—six hours on, six hours off—with this cycle repeating endlessly. It truly highlighted their remarkable dedication."
Everyone needs to be completely at the top of their form because it’s one of those scenarios where being underwater means you entirely depend on the teams to carry out all necessary tasks effectively.
Sir Keir said he felt "somewhat taken aback" upon discovering that he was the first prime minister since David Cameron in 2013 to be aboard one of the nuclear deterrence vessels during its 'Day Zero' arrival back at port.
He also honored the families of the crew members.
Having your beloved person onboard for an extended duration without any means of communication is truly quite an experience.
The experience was deeply touching for the families involved. They had an uplifting day as their long wait finally came to an end and they could be together again. I'd say it was a moment overflowing with love... and brimming with pride as well.
There are small human moments that touch you deeply—some involve newly become fathers who haven’t yet met or been aware of their children, while others deal with losses they weren't acquainted with. It’s quite an array of feelings.
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