Defence-related news today includes the search for the Argentinian submarine and Scottish military bases.
Search for Argentinian submarine
BBC News, Mail Online, The Independent and other media continue to report on the international search and rescue effort for ARA San Juan, noting the UK’s involvement and including the Defence Secretary's statement following the news from the Argentine Navy that an event consistent with an explosion had been detected.
Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said:
This has not just been an agonising time for Argentina, but for our whole international community, and this news is truly devastating for everyone involved in this week’s search and rescue operation. When it comes to situations like this, nationality doesn’t matter: all sailors have an obligation to help each other in a time of such desperate need. I’m extremely proud of the role our Navy and Air Force have played in the international effort to help, and I speak on behalf of those involved, and the whole country, in offering our sincerest condolences to Argentina and the family and friends of the crew.
Scottish MOD bases
The (Glasgow) Herald and the Daily Record report that Scotland's Veterans Minister Keith Brown has written to the Defence Secretary calling for assurances over the defence footprint in Scotland and clarity on the future of bases and personnel.
An MOD Spokesperson said:
We are one of the biggest landowners in Scotland, with an estate more than eight times the size of the City of Glasgow. While no final decision about future sites has been made, the Government is committed to having an enduring defence presence in Scotland, where it continues to invest heavily.
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