The US may return nuclear weapons to the UK for the first time in 20 years
According to a report by the Federation of American Scientists (FAS), 22 previously mothballed nuclear bunkers at the Lakenheath military base in Suffolk have undergone extensive upgrades.
Here's What We Know
The decision to restore nuclear capabilities for US aircraft in the UK was made in 2021, and the process accelerated significantly after Russia's invasion of Ukraine three years ago.
NATO's 2023 document confirmed that the United Kingdom has been added to the list of countries upgrading "special weapons" facilities. Under Pentagon contracts, upgrades at Lakenheath are ongoing, with six more bunkers undergoing upgrades.
The bunkers are shelters for aircraft with underground storage facilities underneath. Each bunker can hold up to four nuclear warheads.
Although the deployment of nuclear weapons in the UK has not been officially confirmed, the FAS report notes that the base could be prepared to quickly deploy warheads in the event of a crisis.
It should be explained that Italy, Turkey, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany are under the US nuclear umbrella. These countries can currently host about 100 US B61-12 nuclear bombs.
Air bases in Europe with US nuclear weapons. Illustration: FAS
It should be recalled that the US withdrew its last nuclear weapons from the UK in 2008, when the Cold War threat was considered less relevant.
In fact, the first deployment of US nuclear weapons in Europe took place in 1954, including at Lakenheath. After the end of the Cold War, arsenals were gradually reduced, and the last bomb left British territory under the presidency of George W. Bush. In short, today RAF Lakenheath remains the largest US Air Force base in the UK and one of the key ones in Europe. It is home to F-15E Strike Eagle and F-35A Lightning II fighter jets capable of carrying nuclear weapons.
Source: The Telegraph
