The UK is threatening to cancel a €600mln (£516mln) weapons order to Belgium, after the export of a critical piece of technology that forms part of the nuclear deterrent was blocked.
In spite of both countries being Nato allies, the Belgian deputy prime minister, who is a member of the green party Ecolo, blocked the export of a specialised isostatic press needed to maintain Britain’s nuclear arsenal due to the party's opposition to nuclear weapons and the arms industry, according to Belgian broadcaster LN24.
The nuclear row has since escalated, with Belgian government ministers reporting the UK has warned it may cancel a machine-guns order from FN Herstal unless the isostatic press export is authorised.
Made by US-Belgian company EPSI in Antwerp, the specialised high-pressure isostatic presses are used in the nuclear industry for handling radioactive waste.
The press is used at the Atomic Weapons Establishment at Aldermaston, Berkshire, which manufactures, maintains and develops the warheads for Trident, the UK’s nuclear deterrent.
After what was a Belgian defence secret was made public by LN24 this week, said the Times, the UK has warned that contracts worth between €300mln and €600mln could be cancelled, with the leaks of the “highly sensitive military information” causing ructions in Belgium’s coalition government and ongoing debate.