In a return to Cold War’s nuclear policy, the United Kingdom will acquire a US jet squad capable of carrying atomic bombs. There will be 12 F-35A bombed fighters, which will allow the British to resume the ability to throw nuclear weapons from the air. The announcement was made on Wednesday, 25, by the British government during the NATO summit.
The reinforcement of the air power, equating to that of the French, will facilitate any British actions in case of crisis. The United Kingdom has also announced that it will join the NATO Air Nuclear Mission, with aircraft equipped with B61 American bombs stored in Europe.
Seven NATO members, including Germany and Italy, have double capacity aircraft that can carry American nuclear warheads. The United Kingdom already operates jets F-35B, but they are not equipped to launch atomic weapons. “For the first time in many years, we have to prepare for the possibility of the UK being under direct threat in a war scenario,” the British government said in a document justifying the purchase.
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The decision to add an air capacity to the UK dissuasion at sea was anticipated in a strategic defense review, published this month, led by George Robertson, former OTAN-General Secretary. The report identified Russia as a serious threat and recommended that London built up to a dozen attack submarines and investing billions of pounds in weapons.
Threat
After decades of relative peace in Europe, the British army is currently smaller than at any time since the Napoleonic era. The government is investing in a recruitment campaign and has promised to use budget funds for military spending.
“In an era of uncertainty, we can no longer consider peace as guaranteed, which is why my government is investing in safety, ensuring that our armed forces have the necessary equipment,” said British prime minister Keir Stmerer.
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With the government under strong internal financial pressure and the British population facing continuous difficulties due to the cost of living, some critics have questioned how commitments to military spending will be funded and if they will come at the expense of other priorities.
