Scots soldiers are playing a key role in training Ukrainian troops to battle Vladimir Putin, the Foreign Secretary has revealed. In an exclusive interview with the Sunday Mail, James Cleverly also slammed the SNP’s “dismissive” attitude to nuclear weapons based at Faslane on the Gare Loch in Argyll.
The Tory minister and military reservist insisted that Trident missile submarines are vital to honouring the UK’s NATO commitments and ability to face down Russian aggression. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s party has said it will never support the retention of Trident or its ongoing renewal at an estimated cost of £176billion.
Cleverly, who has had a meteoric rise since becoming MP for Braintree in Essex just seven years ago, said: “We’re seeing how incredibly important it is to have a credible nuclear and conventional defence posture. When I speak to my Ukrainian counterparts, they hugely value the support the UK has given to them.
“Ukrainian soldiers are being trained by the British Army and there are a disproportionate number of Scots in the Army who are really making a massive difference to the defence of Ukraine.” A couple of months ago it emerged Ukrainian sailors had received training in Scotland from the Royal Navy to operate Sandown-class minehunter vessels, ahead of the sale of two ships.
In a thinly veiled swipe at the SNP, Cleverly added: “I think Putin would love it if there was anything that hampered our ability to help the Ukrainians defend themselves and made our commitment to NATO and other international partnerships less effective. Our nuclear deterrent works every single day and is there to deter.
"Talking dismissively about it is the wrong route completely. The UK wants a more peaceful world and the best way of pursuing peace is to make it absolutely clear that we are able and willing to stand up to aggression.” The conflict is blamed for sparking crippling energy bills, inflation and fears of a looming deep recession.
But Cleverly – appointed by Liz Truss during her disastrous 44 days in Downing Street and retained by new PM Rishi Sunak – insisted it was up to Ukraine to decide if and when peace negotiations can take place. He added: “It’s not for us or any other country to dictate. It’s our duty and responsibility to make sure Ukrainians are able to defend themselves and that when they feel ready to enter negotiations, they do so under the right terms.”
Cleverly didn’t rule out Russian sabotage being behind the severing of an internet cable close to Shetland He added: “We’re constantly having to defend ourselves against digital attack from state and non-state actors. I’m not in a position to make a judgment call on the exact causes of the outages on the islands but we know there are a number of areas where we have to defend ourselves in the physical and digital realm."
Cleverly was in Scotland to meet Strathclyde University scientists who are developing lower-cost, recyclable batteries. The research is being funded by the Government which claims it could improve clean energy access for 25million of the world’s poorest people and save nearly 2.5million tons of carbon emissions. He also visited the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s joint HQ in East Kilbride.
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