[jeffdn]

They still have the ability to put nuclear warheads anywhere on the globe, by virtue of their ballistic missile submarines and the nuclear warheads those ballistic missiles carry. The Trident D5 missiles have a range of more than 7,500 miles, and the submarines move.

That, in and of itself, is worth a lot -- potentially even more than having a large military.

[ClumsyPilot]

'They still have the ability to put nuclear warheads anywhere on the globe'

I think most of UK public would consider that a prime minister that plans using nukes in offensive capacity belong in a padded cell.

[jeffdn]

I completely agree, I was just responding to the parent commenter's assertion that the UK didn't have the offensive power to have "exorbitant privilege"

[dr_dshiv]

I saw a trident missile launch once in 2017. Didn’t know it at the time. Everyone should know about those missiles—they are the reason we don’t have “real” war.

They are so unbelievably powerful it blows my mind.