For the first time since the end of the Cold War, the United Kingdom will participate in the airborne nuclear deterrence of the North Atlantic Treaty (NATO). London will buy twelve F-35 planes that can transport nuclear warheads, Downing Street announced Tuesday, June 24.
“These double-capacity F-35 planes (DCA) will bring the world leader that the Royal Air Force in a new era, and will dissuade hostile threats to the United Kingdom and its allies”said British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in a statement.
The Labor Manager will confirm on Wednesday at the top of the Alliance in The Hague this purchase which is, according to his office, “The greatest strengthening of the United Kingdom nuclear system in a generation”. The secretary general of the Alliance, Mark Rutte, also cited, has “Strongly congratulated” of this announcement, which, according to him, brings a “New British solid contribution to NATO”.
Since the end of the Cold War, British nuclear deterrence as part of the Atlantic Alliance was only ensured by the Royal Navy submarines. At that time, “There was no longer any interest in tactical nuclear weapons in Europe, because the threat had disappeared”explains to the agency France-Presse Héloïse Fayet, nuclear specialist at the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI).
The commitment to devote 5 % of British GDP to Defense
This announcement illustrates, according to her, “The continuation of the renuclearization of Europe, the return of the need for nuclear weapons and the strengthening of NATO’s deterrence, faced with an adversary who is Russia”at war for three years with Ukraine.
These F-35A fighter planes, from the American manufacturer Lockheed Martin, are a variant of F-35B, already used by the United Kingdom, with the difference that they can be equipped with nuclear warheads in addition to carrying conventional weapons. The acquisition of“At least twelve” Of these hunters constituted a long -standing request for the British Air Force.
“In an era of radical uncertainty where we can no longer consider peace as acquired, my government is investing in national security, ensuring that our armed forces have the equipment they need”justified Keir Starmer.
The United Kingdom is already committed on Monday to reach the objective set as part of NATO to devote 5 % of its gross domestic product to security expenditure. Faced with the Russian threat, and under pressure from the American president, Donald Trump, the countries of the Atlantic Alliance are preparing to announce to the Hague an agreement on this target by 2035.
The memorable world
Test your general culture with the writing of the “world”
Test your general culture with the writing of the “world”
Discover
London had already expressed in February his intention to bring his defense budget to 2.5 % of GDP by 2027, then to 3 % after 2029. British defense, John Healey, warned Tuesday that the United Kingdom was “Faced with new nuclear risks, other states increasing, modernizing and diversifying their arsenals”.
Dependence in the United States
As Héloïse Fayet of Ifri notes, the “United Kingdom thus strengthens its contribution to NATO’s nuclear deterrence in a way that is not independent, but in concert with the United States”.
Seven NATO members, including the United States, Germany and Italy, currently have double capacity planes to transport US nuclear nuclear warheads B61, stored on European soil, and which should also be those used by the United Kingdom. But when they are equipped with it, the British “Will not have control over these weapons, which are used as part of NATO and can only be used with the agreement of the United States”insists Héloïse Fayet.
In early June, the United Kingdom announced the construction of twelve attacking nuclear submarines and six ammunition factories, in order to rearm the country against the « menace » posed in particular by Russia. These are twelve nuclear propulsion submarines with conventional weapons, within the framework of the Aukus military alliance, with the United States and Australia.
Keir Starmer had also confirmed that the United Kingdom would spend 15 billion pounds Sterling (17.7 billion euros) for its nuclear warhead program.
