Scottish Labour’s deputy leader Jackie Baillie has warned that the UK must not compromise its security as the global order shifts, citing the potential threat of Russian forces in the North Sea.
She argues that increased defence spending will not only strengthen national security but also benefit Scotland’s economy.
In a column for The Scotsman, Baillie highlighted concerns that “the prospect of Russian forces in the North Sea is an unsettling one” and pointed to recent warnings from UK ministers about the possibility of Moscow deploying unmanned submarine fleets to disrupt subsea cable networks.
Baillie, whose Dumbarton constituency includes the Faslane naval base, emphasised Scotland’s crucial role in national defence. She noted that the base “employs thousands of people directly on the base as well as thousands more in the wider local economy,” arguing that the UK’s renewed focus on defence will reinforce Scotland’s strategic position.
The UK government’s decision to prioritise defence spending over international development has sparked debate, but Baillie contends that “investing in defence will also stimulate our wider economy.” She also criticised the SNP’s long-standing opposition to Trident, urging them to reconsider their stance in light of global security threats. “Tell that to Ukraine,” she wrote, referencing Kyiv’s 1994 decision to relinquish its nuclear weapons in exchange for security guarantees that ultimately failed.
Beyond defence, Baillie sees opportunities for Scotland in clean energy and advanced technology, with Labour’s plans for a national energy company in Aberdeen and a greater focus on workforce training. She stressed the importance of adapting to geopolitical shifts, stating, “we must therefore not compromise our security.”
She is right about the North Sea and our other northern waters. Russian submarines and cable’cutters can roam pretty freely, because we have next to nothing to police them and a very small and inadequate Poseidon fleet.
NATO should really have 2 permanent ASW squadron in the North East Atlantic, one (RN) covering the Iceland-Orkney gap, the other (Neth/Bel/Ger/Den) covering the Orkney-Norway gap. Ditto 2 hunter-killer submarine squadrons covering the same axes.
NATO/UK has nothing like that, just the occasional plastic MCMV or RFA roped in.
Looking at the other ENATO navies, they are all far better provided for with OPVs and corvettes protecting their home waters and patrolling beyond their EEZ. What we really need is 3 capable corvettes patrolling the northern approaches and the 5 River 3s covering western and south-west approaches, Channel and southern North Sea. That would give us a capable UK patrol squadron.
The Euro Corvette programme being led by Italy and France is aiming at a lean-crewed, well-armed 3,000 tonne ship, with an ASW capability. The Rivers would need some basic ASW weapons fit added. These kind of minor warships are a good deal in terms of value for cost. They give young officers the chance of independent command, and the crews a chance of stepping up the promotion ladder. As well as their peacetime efficacy, they could usefully switch to convoy escort in wartime.
We should really make this kind of relatively less expensive investment, rather than forever questing for more escorts and T32 frigates that there is no chance of the budget being able to fulfill.
River 2, not River 3….
True, ‘Cripes’, but please avoid silly mistakes such as referencing Poseidon when making a serious point. Surely, you mean Trident. The UK never deployed Poseidon.
Isn’t Poseidon the early warning aircraft?
No.
No Paul, it is not a ‘silly mistake”. Poseidon is our ASW aircraft. It is one of our best ASW assets to combat Russian submaries and, if necessary, cable-cutters. Surprised you don’t know that.