June 25th 2025.
In a groundbreaking move, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer declared at a NATO summit in The Hague that the United Kingdom will acquire 12 F-35A fighter jets from the United States. These jets have the capability to carry nuclear bombs and will join NATO's shared airborne nuclear mission, marking a significant expansion of the UK's nuclear deterrence. This decision has been hailed as the most significant strengthening of the UK's nuclear posture in a generation.
The NATO Secretary-General, Mark Rutte, expressed his support for this decision and praised it as yet another powerful contribution from Britain to the alliance. It is worth noting that only three NATO members - the US, Britain, and France - possess nuclear weapons, while seven nations contribute to the nuclear mission by providing jets that can carry conventional weapons or American B61 bombs, which are stockpiled in Europe.
It is crucial to mention that the UK phased out air-dropped atomic weapons in the 1990s after the Cold War ended. Currently, the country's nuclear arsenal primarily consists of submarine-based missiles. In the event of the UK using nuclear weapons as part of the mission, authorization from NATO's nuclear planning group, as well as the US president and British prime minister, would be required.
Marion Messmer, an expert from the Chatham House think tank's international security program, pointed out that the government has not specified whether US nuclear weapons would be stationed on British soil. This move would undoubtedly stir up controversy. Messmer also noted that the UK does not possess any nuclear weapons that could be deployed via these aircraft. Other NATO members participating in the mission also have US nuclear weapons on their territory, but these weapons remain solely under American control.
In addition to this significant announcement, Prime Minister Starmer also revealed that the UK would provide 350 air defense missiles to Ukraine. These missiles, worth 70 million pounds, will be funded by the interest earned from seized Russian assets. This move serves as a strong message to Russia, which has been increasing its military presence in the region.
These decisions come at a time when the UK and other NATO members have pledged to increase their spending on security to 5 percent of their gross domestic product by 2035. This total includes 3.5 percent for defense and 1.5 percent for broader security and resilience efforts. Currently, the UK spends 2.3 percent of its national income on defense, and this is set to rise to 2.
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