The US is planning to station nuclear weapons within the UK for the primary time in 15 years amid rising fears of a struggle with Russia, The Telegraph reported, citing paperwork from the Pentagon. Underneath the proposal, the nuclear warheads are mentioned to own a harmful capability thrice that of the bomb dropped on Hiroshima in 1945 and could be stationed at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk.
In 2008, the US eliminated its nuclear missiles from the UK after it felt that the Chilly Conflict risk from Russia had receded. Pentagon paperwork seen by The Telegraph confirmed procurement contracts for a brand new nuclear weapons facility on the Lakenheath airbase.
The event got here amid warnings of a possible struggle between Russia and nations belonging to Nato (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation), of which the UK is a bloc member.
The deliberate institution of US nuclear warheads within the UK is part of a Nato-wide initiative to develop and improve nuclear websites in response to Russia’s threats after Moscow invaded neighbouring Ukraine in February 2022.
Earlier this week, Gen Sir Patrick Sanders, the outgoing head of the British military, mentioned 45,000 reservists and residents must be readied for a attainable struggle with Russia to strengthen its 74,000-strong ranks, in response to The Guardian.
Sanders’ requires a citizen military had been echoed by Admiral Rob Bauer, a senior Nato army official, and former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
The US Air Pressure funds paperwork for fiscal yr 2024 have revealed plans for infrastructure developments at RAF Lakenheath, together with the development of a dormitory to accommodate the inflow of personnel related to the “surety mission”, a time period usually utilized in reference to the protection and safety of US nuclear belongings.
Whereas the UK authorities maintains a coverage of neither confirming nor denying the presence of nuclear weapons at particular areas, the actions at Lakenheath recommend preparations for the potential housing of B61-12 gravity bombs.
These bombs are a part of a modernisation effort, changing older B61-3/4 bombs, and are anticipated to be delivered alongside the deployment of nuclear-capable F-35A Lightning II jets to the bottom.
