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Comment by andyhedges | Hacker News Reader

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andyhedges·

I hate to break it to you, but the UK has had a military for some time now.

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This isn't what "militarize" means in this context or mostly anywhere

So has France, but their nuclear weapons program is new.

I don’t think it’s weird to point out the little guys (especially former or current EU) getting strapped.

I think both the UK and France have had nuclear weapons programs since the 50s and 60s. Are you thinking about the "Northwood declaration" ? Where they both said they would coordinate their nuclear responses?

The first nuclear weapon tests for the UK and France were in 1952 and 1960, respectively. Nothing about that is new.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_weapons_of_the_United_...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France_and_weapons_of_mass_des...

> Nothing about that is new.

Now we’re both wrong!

The French are now using submarines (striking distance and speed, blah blah)

and are apparently being looked at as the leader of “forward deterrence” in the region.

https://tvpworld.com/93637117/frances-nuclear-umbrella-which...

The French have always had a very strong submarine fleet with nuclear launch capability. Nothing new about this in the slightest. This puts them in a very select group and is what still gives them some clout on the international stage.

> Nothing new about this in the slightest

Deep inland strikes from miles out while underwater/at sea.

France has had submarine-launched ICBMs with nuclear warheads since 1971.

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