The leader of the Liberal Democrats has called for the United Kingdom to develop a fully sovereign nuclear weapons capability, arguing that Britain should no longer depend on American support for its nuclear deterrent.

Ed Davey said the UK should manufacture, maintain and control its own nuclear missile system rather than relying on the existing Trident programme, which is closely linked to the United States.

Speaking at his party’s spring conference, Davey warned that Britain’s security could be compromised if its nuclear forces continued to depend on external infrastructure and political relationships.

Britain currently maintains its nuclear deterrent through the Trident system, deployed aboard Vanguard-class submarines.

While the warheads are produced in the United Kingdom and operational control rests with the British prime minister, the ballistic missiles themselves are manufactured in the United States and maintained through American facilities.

Analysts note that this arrangement reflects decades of close nuclear cooperation between the two allies.

Davey argued that a genuinely independent deterrent would require Britain to build and maintain its own missile technology and supporting infrastructure.

He acknowledged that creating such a system would likely cost billions of pounds over the coming decades but said the investment could strengthen domestic industry, science and manufacturing.

The proposal comes amid broader debate in Europe about defence and security arrangements in a shifting geopolitical environment.

Davey pointed to global nuclear risks and the large arsenals maintained by other powers as evidence that the United Kingdom must ensure its deterrent remains credible.

At the same time, the Liberal Democrats reiterated their long-standing commitment to the goal of multilateral nuclear disarmament, saying that efforts to reduce global nuclear stockpiles should continue alongside maintaining effective deterrence in the current security climate.

The call for a sovereign nuclear capability highlights ongoing political discussion in Britain over the future of the country’s nuclear forces and the extent of its reliance on allies for key elements of defence technology.