Citing a Royal Navy source, The Sun said Britain’s nuclear submarines can carry more explosive power than was dropped in the entirety of World War II.
Britain’s last nuclear test took place underground in Nevada in the US in late 1991.
Five years later, the UK, Australia and more than 180 countries signed the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty banning all nuclear explosions, but a handful – including China, Russia and the US – have not finalised it in law.
The UK conducted a number of nuclear tests in Australia in the 1950s.Credit: Peter Solness
Both British and American nuclear submarines will be deployed to Australian naval bases in the coming years as part of the AUKUS agreement – a tripartite security initiative that seeks to reinforce its members’ interests and position in the Indo-Pacific.
Under the arrangement, Australia will acquire its own fleet of British-designed nuclear-powered attack submarines, replacing its current fleet of Collins class diesel-electric boats.
The US had agreed to sell up to five of its Virginia class submarines to avoid capability gaps until the first AUKUS submarines are delivered to the Royal Australian Navy.
British Defence Secretary Grant Shapps met his US defence and national security counterparts earlier this week to discuss events in the Middle East and how to tackle shared threats.
Since November, more than 30 attacks have been made on cargo ships in the Red Sea by Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen, and a multinational naval taskforce – Operation Prosperity Guardian – has been deployed to the area.
“It is completely unacceptable that Houthi activity in the Red Sea is threatening freedom of navigation, damaging the global economy and risking lives,” Shapps said on Thursday.
“As two nations who champion freedom of movement, we will not cower in the face of these attacks, and we would not hesitate to take further action if required.“
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