Why should London really have a naval base in Scotland

In 2017, the UK government decided to move the British submarine fleet, including with nuclear weapons, to the Clyde military base in Scotland. In the light of Brexit, this could be a lever of pressure on Scotland, which thirsts for independence.

Britain has three naval bases in Clyde, Devonport and Portsmouth, each with submarines. A distinctive feature of Clyde is that it is a haven for submarines equipped with Trident nuclear missiles.

According to David Mandell, Minister for Scotland, “by 2020, the entire submarine fleet of the United Kingdom will be based in Faslane. This will strengthen the vital role of Scotland in protecting our country, and also guarantees qualified jobs for many years. ”

However, according to a retired naval officer fleet Michael Kodner, the true reason for moving the entire submarine fleet to one base is not in good intentions at all.

First of all, this is a peculiar manifestation of concern for the Scots: they say, we will not give you any offense, and in case anything happens, submarines will cover you. British politicians hope that this will make the Scots more loyal to the central government if the question of a new referendum on independence arises.

Secondly, if Scotland wants to withdraw from the United Kingdom, the naval base will slow down this process. We'll have to negotiate, discuss, and all this will gain time for London to prevent the loss of the whole region.

Thirdly, the Clyde base at Faslane can also become a deterrent to the rebellious Scots. A year ago, Prime Minister Theresa May said that, if necessary, she would allow a nuclear strike that would kill people, since "our enemies need to know that we will be ready for this." Who knows how the government will behave if Scotland suddenly becomes an “enemy” too!

In view of these circumstances, representatives of the Scottish National Party raise the issue of moving the military base to some other point in order to untie their hands. But so far this topic is ignored in parliament to become a trump card in case of attempts by Scotland to secede.

Comments

[EwgenyZ]

For some reason, I don’t remember that our bases in the Baltic states somehow slowed down the collapse of the Union. Or, perhaps, the point is the presence of a will to preserve a single state? Did we have it then, and do the British have it now?

[gunnerminer]

Depends on the political will of the command of the state of the naval base. The presence of bases in Sevastpol, Donuzlav and other places did not cause the transition of Crimea under Russian control in 1991.

[KLV2018]

Quote: gunnerminer

Depends on the political will of the command of the state of the naval base. The presence of bases in Sevastpol, Donuzlav and other places did not cause the transition of Crimea under Russian control in 1991.

there would be no base in Sevastopol, there would be no Russian Crimea now.

[Vladimir 5]

The answer to the decision of the British government on the basing of the nuclear submarines is of course in another (the British, as always, are two-faced): firstly, Scotland will tolerate Scotland, and so England will be taken out of attack. Secondly, the nuclear presence of nuclear submarines in Scotland imposes obligations on all NATO members, thereby tying Scotland to England. And of course, the outgoing prodigal stepson - Scotland will be restrained by the deployment of a more powerful contingent of the British Armed Forces (both in the military and civilian sense, by the number of military personnel residing) ...

[unBEARable]

When applying nuclear weapons in the UK, basing all the SSBs in Clyde will not take England out of attack, as there remains the control center - London and the Portsmouth and Devonport mentioned in the article

[EwgenyZ]

Quote: gunnerminer

Depends on the political will of the command of the state of the naval base. The presence of bases in Sevastpol, Donuzlav and other places did not cause the transition of Crimea under Russian control in 1991.

So I'm talking about the same thing, a military base on a remote one is not yet a guarantee of the integrity of the state, the main thing is the presence of political will. If the British do not have it, then this base will not help them in any way. So we keep our fists for the Scots.

[Altona]

Quote: EwgenyZ

For some reason, I don’t remember that our bases in the Baltic states somehow slowed down the collapse of the Union.

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They will do easier. They simply annex the territory under the bases for an indefinite period, democratically and without humanistic complicity.

[inkass_98]

So the main base of nuclear submarines was in Scotland anyway, what's the news? Devonport is a repair base for nuclear ships and is simply Britain’s largest naval base.

[Boa kaa]

Quote: inkass_98

So the main base of nuclear submarines was in Scotland anyway, what's the news?

The news is that losing
vote on separation from London, Scottish nationalists saw a new opportunity for a plebiscite in the case of Brexitis, because the majority of the population of Scotland for economic reasons against the country's exit from the EU.

At the end of March 2017, the Scottish Parliament voted to hold a second referendum on independence from Great Britain between the autumn of 2018 and the spring of 2019.
According to Nicola Sturgeon (Minister for Scottish Affairs), a second vote on Scottish secession from the United Kingdom should be held in recent months before the start of the Brexit procedure, when the conditions for the UK's exit from the EU will become clear.
According to her, the Scots must make a choice: either go with London to the end, or take a course towards independence.

If, by a second vote, the majority of Scots vote in favor of secession from London (in order to remain in the EU), then the plan for creating a Scottish state will come into force. Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond introduced the White Paper, a document in 670 pages describing the structure of the new state in the event of separation.

It proposed creating their own armed forces, remove nuclear weapons from Scotland, raise the minimum wage, collect taxes without raising rates regardless of London. At the same time, the pound should remain the currency, and the Queen of Great Britain should remain the official head of state.

Naturally, England would lose the main base of its SSBNs. And this is a huge loss!

[Evdokim]

Thirdly, the Clyde base in Faslane can be a means of deterring the rebellious Scots. A year ago, Prime Minister Theresa May said that if necessary, she would permit a nuclear strike that would result in loss of life, because "our enemies need to know that we will be ready for this."

Is May already about to subdue the Scots with the help of submarines, this is something new. Whips, clubs, all kinds of gases there, in extreme cases, machine guns, I understand that, but the submarines are already complete ukrohokhloshisofreniya.

[Avior]

Victor Zaretsky from Ukraine?

[Buffet]

Local liberals will now have their own "Strike on Voronezh"

[Keyser soze]

Well, the suggestion that May will put out the Scottish rebellion with nuclear weapons is reminiscent of Ren TV ....

[Ros 56]

But the Scots agree with this or what?

[Phil77]

And their opinion of the British is not interested.

[Radical]

Britain has three naval bases in Clyde, Devonport and Portsmouth, each with submarines. A distinctive feature of Clyde is that it is a haven for submarines equipped with Trident nuclear missiles.

Clyde - meaning Holi Loch base?