Welsh First Minister Demands Suspension of US-UK Space Defence Initiative
Wales's First Minister Eluned Morgan has issued a direct appeal to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, urging the immediate suspension of a major joint defence project with the United States. Morgan declared that under the leadership of Donald Trump, America has become "not the partner it once was," citing the US president's demonstrated "contempt" towards the United Kingdom and his recent threats to "annihilate" Iran as primary justifications for halting development.
Questioning Alliance Values and Security Interests
In a strongly-worded statement released on Wednesday, the Labour politician outlined her profound concerns regarding the continuation of the Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability (Darc) programme, situated within her own Senedd constituency in Pembrokeshire. This advanced radar system forms a critical component of the broader Aukus defence partnership between the UK, United States, and Australia.
"The United States under Donald Trump is not the partner it once was," Morgan asserted. "Talk of targeting civilians, undermining our allies, and diminishing the sacrifice of our armed forces is not the conduct of a reliable ally. I believe in international alliances and collective security, but there is a clear difference between standing with our partners and giving a free pass to a US president who has threatened war crimes and shown contempt for our country."
The First Minister has formally urged the UK government to "halt our involvement in the Aukus radar project until we can be confident those partnerships reflect our values, and our security interests."
Local Controversy and Political Backing
The Darc project, designed as part of a global network of radars to monitor deep space activity and protect against potential space warfare, has sparked significant local opposition. The installation near the national park boundary at Cawdor Barracks on the St David's peninsula will feature twenty-seven radar dishes, each standing twenty metres high.
Local campaign group Parc Against Darc has labelled the proposed development "one of the most health-hazardous, tourism-ruining, skyline-blighting military installations ever proposed anywhere in the UK." To date, a dozen Senedd members have voiced opposition, though only three belong to the Labour party.
Conversely, the project has received support from Labour MP for Mid and South Pembrokeshire, Henry Tufnell, and Secretary of State for Wales, Jo Stevens. Both argue the radar programme will preserve jobs at the army base, which was previously scheduled for closure in 2028.
Election Campaign Context and Political Strains
Morgan's high-profile intervention arrives amidst intense campaigning for the Senedd elections scheduled for 7 May. Current polling indicates that after more than a century in power in Wales, Labour risks falling to third or even fourth place next month, trailing behind Plaid Cymru and Reform UK.
Starmer's declining popularity has further damaged an already struggling Welsh Labour party, which may be reduced to single-digit seat numbers in the next Senedd. The First Minister herself appears on course to potentially lose her own constituency seat.
While Morgan has previously expressed frustration with Labour policies emanating from Westminster, including attempts to reduce winter fuel payments and disability benefits, she ultimately supported the Prime Minister when Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar called for his resignation in February.
Government Response and Historical Tensions
Downing Street did not provide an immediate response to requests for comment. However, in a statement to the Press Association, a spokesperson for the Prime Minister appeared to advocate for continuing the Darc project, stating: "[Darc] will secure long-term jobs in Pembrokeshire, Wales and help protect essential satellite communication and navigation works. We're engaging with the local community on proposals to redevelop Cawdor Barracks to host Darc, which will be operated by UK personnel... and have already completed a comprehensive environmental impact assessment including to ensure the project has minimal impact on the local skyline."
Senior Labour figures have generally been hesitant to criticise Trump since the beginning of his second presidential term, though Morgan previously described the US president as "off-the-scale crazy" in 2017. The First Minister notably declined an invitation to a state banquet in Trump's honour at Windsor Castle last September and earlier this week accused him of "poor judgment" for posting a "deeply offensive" AI-generated image portraying him as a Christ-like figure.
The United States remains Wales's second-most valuable trading partner, surpassed only by the European Union, adding economic complexity to the current diplomatic and defence tensions.
