A NUCLEAR submarine from the United States of America has berthed at Faslane during a planned visit to Scotland.
The Los Angeles class nuclear-powered submarine arrived at HMNB Clyde on Monday morning.
The base is the home of the UK’s nuclear weapons in the form of submarines armed with thermonuclear warheads called Trident missiles.
It comes after a senior US officer visited Faslane last month.
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General Anthony Cotton, a commander in US strategic command, visited the UK to familiarise himself with the country’s nuclear arsenal.
The Prime Minister’s principal military advisor, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, said the visit highlighted the importance of the UK’s nuclear deterrents.
“I welcome General Cotton to the United Kingdom to see the extraordinary national endeavour that is underway to ready our nuclear enterprise for the challenges of a more contested world,” he said.
“Russia’s renewed aggression has reinforced the fundamental importance of nuclear deterrence to our collective security.
🇺🇸 US Los Angeles class submarine headed up the Clyde this morning @usnavy #submarine #submariner #shipping #firthofclyde #hmnbclyde @royalnavy pic.twitter.com/8RZClAZ0Qg
— Sheila Weir (@SheilaLWeir) February 19, 2024
“We should be proud of the role the UK-US nuclear partnership has played as a stabilising force in global affairs for the past 65 years.
“No two other nations in the world are prepared to cooperate so comprehensively over such sovereign and supreme strategic capabilities.
“With production of both the Dreadnought and Columbia classes of submarine now well underway, the UK-US nuclear partnership will prove just as vital in the decades ahead.“
The US Navy’s Los Angeles class submarines have a top speed of around 25 knots (29mph) and carry a large array of weaponry, including Tomahawk cruise missiles and underwater mines.
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A total of 26 Los Angeles class submarines remain in service in the US Navy, making them the most active class of submarine anywhere in the world.
However, the visit occurs amidst serious concerns about the safety of the UK’s nuclear weapons.
Last month, The National revealed that the retirement dates of two of the UK’s nuclear submarines have been repeatedly pushed back, with questions raised about the continued safety of the vessels.
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