(MENAFN) According to The Times, a schism has formed between Britain and Belgium after Brussels rejected the sale of a component essential to the UK's nuclear arsenal. As a result, the UK has allegedly threatened to terminate a lucrative arms contract with FN Herstal, a Belgian-based weapons manufacturer.
The Belgian government refused to permit the shipment of a specialist isostatic press, which is required to maintain British nukes, two weeks ago because the greens, who oppose nuclear weapons and are part of the ruling coalition, blocked the plan, according to the report.
The Belgian media also claimed, citing sources, that the government had failed to authorize the transfer of nuclear technology to the British army on November 9.
According to the Times, the conflict erupted when Belgian authorities threatened that the UK would halt a €600 million ($624 million) contract for FN Herstal machineguns if Brussels did not change its mind.
The Times cited two senior Belgian government officials who expressed fear that the debate may "endanger Western unity and NATO" in the midst of the Ukraine war.
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