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Scottish Independence: Trident Could Move To US Or France
ALEX Salmond has said Trident could be relocated to the US or France after independence, as he ruled out the prospect of a “Cyprus-style” leaseback scheme that would see the nuclear weapons system remain in Scotland.

The First Minister’s comments came amid growing concerns that it would be prohibitively expensive for the UK government to move the submarine-based system, which is based in Faslane on the Clyde, south of the Border if Scots vote to leave the UK in 2014.

The SNP conference agreed to change policy and back Nato membership last Friday, but only on the condition that Scotland got rid of the Trident system to which the party has long been opposed.

And Mr Salmond made it clear yesterday there would be no Guantanamo Bay or Cyprus-style UK enclave at Faslane, which could see the Trident system remain after the split.

Instead, he said the UK government would be left with “two choices” if the SNP held the reins of power in an independent Scotland.

“They could move Trident to another facility in the rest of the UK,” he told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show.

“Or alternatively, they could use the nuclear facilities in America or in France for that matter. Nuclear facilities incidentally in America – because Trident is effectively an American weapon.”

He added: “Of course, they could decide on what would be a much better policy, which would be to decommission the weapon system.

“That would be a matter for the London government, but that doesn’t mean that we’re going to think it amenable to lease out part of Scottish territory in... a Cyprus situation.”

The SNP plan to write opposition to nuclear weapons into the constitution of an independent state, making possession of them illegal in Scotland.

“That’s a perfectly reasonable choice for any country to make, and the idea there are not choices then for a London government is ridiculous,” Mr Salmond added.

“If they want to lease out part of Scotland, like Cyprus, then what’s the problem with stationing the Trident system on the east coast of American bases, which were actually built for that exact submarine system?”

The US has been the UK’s closest military partner since the Second World War and recent strategic partnerships have also been agreed with France.

But defence expert Tim Ripley last night played down the prospect: “No country has ever kept their deterrent force in a foreign country, based on the principle that your last resort has to be somewhere where you have total control of it.

“The issue is whether British nuclear warheads ought to be kept in a foreign country. The independent nuclear deterrent implies you have independent national control over them.”

Mr Salmond’s comments came under fire from Labour defence spokesman Jim Murphy.

“The SNP’s defence policy is a huge risk and could cost an independent Scotland a place in Nato as well as thousands of defence jobs. Their rushed and reckless plans could be damaging to Scotland at home and overseas,” he said.

The SNP conference narrowly voted to change party policy and join nuclear defence alliance Nato. But the leadership is facing pressure to secure a written guarantee from Nato that an independent Scotland can join without nuclear weapons.

Backbench MSP Sandra White will put forward her resolution at the National Council, the governing body of the party.
Posted by: Sherry 2012-10-22
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=354374