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Sir Keir Starmer has boarded a nuclear-armed submarine as it returned from a lengthy patrol – in a rare showcasing of the UK’s deterrent that will catch Russia’s attention at a time of growing tensions.
While being reminded about British nuclear strength though, Russian President Vladimir Putin will also doubtless take note of a potential weakness.
HMS Vanguard was kept patrolling at sea for more than 200 days – one of the longest-ever deployments that will likely have put a huge strain on the submariners and the vessel – as issues with maintaining the ageing fleet make it harder to rotate the boats more quickly.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Defence Secretary John Healey visited a Vanguard class submarine off the coast of Scotland
The Royal Navy must keep one nuclear-armed submarine at sea at all times.
The so-called “continuous at-sea deterrence” is the cornerstone of UK defence strategy and the ultimate guarantor of the nation’s security.
It is the first time a prime minister has visited one of the Royal Navy’s four top-secret nuclear-armed submarines as it returned from a deterrent patrol – a moment known as “Day Zero” – in more than a decade.
The last time this happened was with David Cameron in 2013.
Video released by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) showed Sir Keir, eyes pressed to pair of binoculars, and Defence Secretary John Healey sailing out to greet the ageing submarine – which had surfaced – as it re-entered UK waters off Scotland earlier in the week following what was reported to have been a 204-day patrol.
The MoD declined to confirm the length of time the boat had been at sea. The longest known deployment – of 207 days – was carried out in 2021 by HMS Victorious.
Sir Keir Starmer…
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