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UK Labour Reaffirms Commitment to Renew Trident Nuclear Program

© Flickr / Official U.S. Navy PageThe Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarine USS Alabama
The Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarine USS Alabama - Sputnik International
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The British Labour's proposal to reduce the number of nuclear submarines for replacement does not mean the party will abandon its commitment to the Trident program, UK Shadow Secretary of State for Defense Vernon Coaker said Friday.

Base at Faslane, in western Scotland - Sputnik International
Scottish Socialist Party Welcomes SNP's Stance on Trident Nuclear Weapons
LONDON (Sputnik) — The renewal of the Trident missile submarine nuclear deterrent program, estimated at 100 billion pounds (about $150 billion) has become a hotly contested topic prior to the May 7 general election in the United Kingdom. The Conservatives, the current ruling party, insist on building four new nuclear missile-armed submarines, while the Labour, has suggested reducing the number of submarines from four to three.

"Let me be absolutely clear — we are committed to the renewal of Trident,” Coaker, speaking to the Royal United Services Institute in London said.

Scottish naval base at Faslane - Sputnik International
Day of Action Over UK Trident Nuclear Program Raises Election Stakes
It is important to renew the deterrence and keep the nuclear facilities well-prepared, because “we cannot know what threat we might face in the coming 40 years,” Coaker added.

The shadow secretary said that within several weeks since the formation of the new government a group of experts will be set up to discuss the most efficient ways to modernize armed forces.

The UK currently operates four Trident submarines from the Faslane base, the only facility in the United Kingdom that is able to accommodate Britain’s nuclear deterrent. Each submarine carries 48 nuclear warheads delivered by 16 surface-to-air missiles.

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