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Unlike the UK, France is the only credible nuclear power in Europe.
After helping the US develop nuclear weapons in the Manhattan Project, Britain developed its own nuclear weapons in 1952.
But virtually ever sense, British leaders have simply leased nuclear weapons from the States.
That came to a head in 1962, when the US cancelled its bilateral Skybolt agreement, leaving the UK without a nuclear force.
This was an affront to both France and the UK. But whilst Britain agreed to lease Polaris from the Americans, de Gaulle determined to strike his own course, confident that an American security guarantee could not be relied upon forever.
As that risk turns into reality, the UK is powerless to defend Europe with nuclear weapons, because they require American approval to use them.
By contrast, France became an independent nuclear power in 1968, and half a century later, is the only country which can feasible challenge Russia’s nuclear dominance. 1 reply
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