London will relocate its nuclear weapons to other countries if Scotland declares independence

The British newspaper Financial Times reported on London's plans to place its nuclear weapons in the United States or in France in the event of Scotland's withdrawal from the United Kingdom. According to sources of the publication, submarines equipped with Trident-class ICBMs, which are now based on the eastern coast of the Irish Sea, about 40 kilometers north-west of Glasgow, will be transferred to the bases of NATO allies.

Earlier, the country's Ministry of Defense discussed the option of building a new infrastructure for the British nuclear deterrent forces. However, they could not allocate the necessary funds in the amount of more than 5 billion euros. Now, the US Navy base Kings Bay in Georgia and the stronghold of French nuclear submarines on the Ile Long Peninsula are considered as the bases for submarine nuclear forces.



At the same time, the Financial Times clarifies that, despite the financial benefits of such a step, the withdrawal of the Nuclear Deterrence Force outside the country may have political consequences, as it calls into question London's sovereignty over its own weapons of mass destruction.

The Ministry of Defense is considering another, third option. Following the example of Gibraltar, Scotland will be offered to endow the Faslane and Coolport naval bases with the status of British overseas territories. Thus, London will try to maintain its sovereignty over them. At the same time, Downing Street understands that Edinburgh is unlikely to agree to such a deal.