The United States is reportedly planning to station nuclear weapons at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk, marking the first such deployment in the United Kingdom in 15 years.
This development, as indicated by the Telegraph, is in response to growing concerns about the threat posed by Russia.
RAF Lakenheath has a historical precedent for housing US nuclear weapons; it was an active site during the Cold War but saw the removal of such armaments in 2008.
This decision comes at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions and is expected to draw major international attention.
The Pentagon has maintained silence regarding speculations about the development of a new “surety dormitory” at the site. The procurement documents further detail orders for new equipment for the base, notably including ballistic shields. These shields are reportedly intended to provide protection for military personnel against attacks targeting “high-value assets.”
Additionally, the disclosed papers suggest that plans are underway for the construction of a new housing facility for American forces, with the project expected to commence in June. This move aligns with the broader strategy of enhancing the base’s infrastructure to support the anticipated “nuclear mission.”
More bang for your buck.
Absolutely! Nuclear weapons were there in the past, and is hopefully now returning. I also hope that the USA will make it very clear to the UK government that the UK military must come out of its minimalist stupor and start pulling its weight.
And then . . . more hopefulness when comes November we will see the return of a straight shooting US President to read all of NATO the riot act!
reading NATO the riot act may not get what the US needs….infact it could be the ultimate geopolitical fuckwitery..If china thinks the U.S. and European nations have a spit it will encourage and emboldened china and china is already on a trajectory of war with the US and if the US entered a war with china at the point it had buggered it’s relationship with European it would be in a whole heap of trouble…..
Or is that rubble
😂
If what you say comes to a head, we all will be learning yoga to kiss our butts goodbye…
Four Horsemen will be on the horizon if these idiots in power dont get there heads straight…as for Trump ! thats a nightmare that should never be allowed to be re-visited, im told by a freind in the states Civil War could be on the cards if that numpty gets power ! Not the kind of drama the world needs,could get messy for N.A.T.O
Case of wait and see, i live in hope those in power come to there senses😉
Trump couldn’t find his backside with two hands and a torch
Ya think biden can, he doesn’t even know what planet he is on, obama is pulling his strings, another weak past President.
Trump just needs to look in the mirror😉🤣
Liberals do not have enough guts for a civil war, most libs are weak and woke. 4 more years of biden would be an even bigger disaster.
Anyone disagreeing with you?
A day of Trump would be a world disaster. That thing needs putting out of his misery, and buried on a golf course.
Right, because Europe is SO MUCH help to the USA. *cringe*
Sorry when did sleepy Joe get a vote on UK defence spending?
Perhaps we should lecture them for not pulling their weight in Ukraine along with EU.
What weight is the UK not pooling? Compared to who?
Well perhaps you should be calling out Trump and the republicans,not Biden who wants to give Ukraine all they need (bell end that he is)
Trump needs a red spot in the middle of his forehead. Felt tip pen will do. To make look more of an idiot than he is.
The bloke’s a first class Bell End, he seems to attract the like minded. God help America if he gets back in…..
God help us all.
😂😂😂
😁 Sorry.. Being a copycat..
Not just America! God help all of us.
0 wars on his watch. 5 and counting under Biden.
👍
*ickhead. Utter W⚓R
Let’s hope Mr Trump v2.0 is not so stupid but you wonder if he’s still pally with Mr Putin? US needs to show leadership in keeping all of NATO together. If the US leaves won’t that just encourage old European power rivalries again? Let’s hope Mr Shapps doesn’t talk too much “war talk” too especially if the UK doesn”t have the means to deliver on it. Hope UK defence gets a further boost though.
Talking to your opposite, e.g. Trump talking to Putin, is never bad. A short cut to war is when talking stops, after the war the victors and vanquished will have to talk the peace anyway! Yes, if the US leaves Nato “old European rivalries” may start again. Well, surely the US cannot be expected to babysit “old European rivalries”? The EU must babysit themselves. The short answer – the UK, if it wants to ‘walk the talk’ will have to find the money and up the defence budget substantially, the bigger challenge is to motivate the youth to join the… Read more »
Ifd America elects a juvenile halfwit we’re all screwed.
Lock HIM up.
Another reason to increase the numbers.
Eurofighter says it is comfortable with delivering integration of the U.S. B61 nuclear weapon onto the aircraft, a process that requires U.S. certification. Paltzo said he was confident the U.S. government would not use the certification requirements of the weapon as “leverage” to force Germany towards a U.S. platform.
The Germans tried that before, as the replacement for their Tornados. The US ramped up the integration costs. Hence the requirement for the F18’s as they’re already integrated with B61. Then Germany saw sense when the penny dropped, when they realized they wouldn’t be getting an upgrade over their Tornados. Which is why they are now choosing the F35A, as a direct Tornado replacement.
I wonder given the current climate weather they would do so now as we are their closest ally?
Hi Nige, I doubt it. You just have to look at what some Senators were doing trying to block the Ukraine arms deliveries. To realize that America first is not a byword!
Not sure on this one, seems to ramp up nuclear tension but has no real impact..looks and smells a bit like pointless sabre rattling…that gives our enemies something to point out in the UN.
The simple fact is the wests nuclear deterrence guarantees the mutual destruction of human civilisation…so what more is needed in that domain…you don’t need more than MAD.
What we need is more conventional deterrence and increased industrial output of key arms as that is what we seem to be lacking at present…
A response to Russian IRBMs placed in Belarus?
While I’m not so concerned myself, are such bombs still located in Italy and Germany? I thought Incilik too at one time? If so, assume the F35A being an ideal carrier and seemng as a wing of those is coming there, makes sense.
CND and CAAB will be jumping up and down as usual.
CND and CAAB lol…. That was my first thought too ! Do you think we’ll see them camped up again ?
They all ready are Frank they all ready are….
Ha…. !
AFAIK the lady who runs CAAB has never stopped. Although I’ve not checked in with her on their website in many a year now….🙄
Funnily enough, I was talking to a lady just a few months back whilst Camping on Portland… she was telling me all about her life “You Name it, I’ve Protested” she said….. Greenham Common, Save the Whale, A34 Bypass, Just stop oil to name a few…. She was a “Van Lifer” with an old Talbot camper and Tie dyed clothes…… a bit of a Character to say the least ! oh and no teeth…. 😁
Well I’d support her on some of those.
There was a suggestion the A34 was pushed by the USAF so GLCM could disperse easier from Greenham Common, but also Welford, were it’s been suggested some might also have been located.
Her name wasn’t Lindis by any chance?
Never got her name but standing down wind was a bit difficult ! …. A34 is horrible mostly….. Full of lorries trying to overtake each other whilst failing at the next incline… It’s theoretical Speed limit of 70mph is more like 30 in reality…..
Nutter obviously
But she had great Crochet Skills…. She showed me all her Decorations she’d made for Christmas…..
Wow maybe you should get out more often
To be fair, I do get out quite a bit……. Thinking of going full time Van Life… just need to get a Divorce ! 😂
Interesting….I’m desperate for a new vow camper van ( the gear box fell out the old one about 7 years ago) but Mrs will not have it….the argument is it’s cramped, not very comfy and involves weeing in a bucket…apparently spending the money on a nice car and using high end B&Bs and hotels is more fun and civilised….
😆
No teeth you say. Here hold my coat!
😆
Yes it’s probably as you say a response, not the best one but I suppose a response is a response..personally I think something like forward basing US SSNs in the Uk would be a more powerful message as they are usable in a war. As for other nations holding US weapons, they are part of the NATO weapons sharing agreement and part of that is that they would arm the pilots and planes of that nation…so Germany would actually deliver the nuclear weapons that are based in Germany etc…I’m don’t believe these weapons would come under that agreement and structure..… Read more »
The UK does have full control over these weapons, they are operating from RAF airbases on UK soil, they are not sovereign bases. US planes can’t launch strike missions without permission.
Having such weapons in the UK strengthens NATO in that if you look at seven days to the Rhine the Soviets planned to be pretty liberal with tactical nukes over Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands to knock out airbases.
This way they know they can’t take out NATO tactical nuclear capability without dropping weapons on another nuclear armed power which would attract a strategic response.
As I said Jim, I pretty much disagree with the whole concept of tactical nuclear weapons..a a profundity fucked up concept that would inevitably lead to a strategic exchange…the only use for nuclear weapons is as the big red everyone dies button..it removes any strategic ambiguity and the concept that you could use nuclear weapons as weapons of war….simply tell your enemy the red line is using nucs and if you do we press the big red die button…actually having tactical nucs sends out a message that 1) You consider them a tool of war….and so why can’t your enemy.… Read more »
And in Kaliningrad enclave. Which given as our Defence Post is the Baltic / NE Poland area means we are in the firing line but with nothing of our own deter Putin with. I have said before we need to get a small but effective U.K Tactical Nuclear Strike capability.
And still no GBAD as yet to intercept anything that might come the UK’s way. Why wait to be hit? While they’re upgrading Aster, purchase a few more and have some SAMP/T land/truck based units with shared inventory with the RN. Will complement the Sky Sabre.
The UKs ground based air defences are shockingly lacking. I’ve said before on here that it wouldn’t cost a fortune to set up a TA or RAF reserve unit or a new service altogether that principally and only addressed defences for key UK facilities. An order for a few dozen radar guided 40mm Bofors, Phalanx , land Ceptor and Aster 30NTs wouldn’t break the bank and likely would ensure short of a massive strike that the UK remains in the fight and able to support it’s allies and defend it’s home territory (something that is supposed to be the number… Read more »
I used to think opposite. Now, I agree.
Rodders, from the 80s, there was no tactical nuclear strike – it would have been an escalation to full on nuclear war and the leadership of both sides recognised this.
We need a far bigger and more balanced conventional defence capability with added power to deter China – starting with the navy first alongside defence engagement in the Indian and Pacific littorals and nation building/support in those self same littorals.
Just for a change – Sri Lanka springs to mind and is desperate for support away from China 😉
If we can go back to calling them Ceylon, sure let’s go!
Then ‘simply’ just going through Burma to cause China a pain in the rear.
Completely agree…tactical nuclear weapons are a disaster…It provides a delusion that you can actually use nuclear weapons as weapons of war..it weakens our strategic deterrence….knowing you will get strategic deterrence in the face if you ever use a nuclear weapon on us is a very different proposition to you may get a tactical nuc back as a response to your tactical nuc.
what we need is as you say a huge upgrade in our conventional response as a way to deter war.
Morning Jonathan, a huge upgrade in our conventional posture will never happen, at best
(if 3% GDP is actually realised) we can slowly increase force levels across the board back to turn of the century levels, with a modern twist.
In that logic we are alone !
Not really because no one else has ever used a tactical nuclear weapon against another nuclear power…they all keep the tactical nuclear weapons..but no one has ever used one…using a tactical nuclear weapon against a strategically armed opponent when every single strategically armed nation makes it clear they would undertake a strategic response makes tactical nuclear weapons the ultimate in pointless…
Yes but only for the UK noone else drank the same Coolade. The French see it differently hence the “Force De Disuasion” which is their Tactical Nuclear force using ASMPE.. Because they have them and are not declared to NATO they see them as a vital part of deterence as it not US dependant but a sovereign capabilty and gives them options. Their logic is it allows them a measured response to the limited use of Tactical Nuclear Weapons by an enemy. It gives them an option we don’t have as it shows that they are ready to use weapons… Read more »
No we don’t…it lessens our deterrent..at present Putin know that if he used a tactical nuclear weapon on the UK he would get a full strategic deterrent back that would shatter his country and end up killing billions if he returned the complement..if we had tactical nuclear weapons..he may just consider us using one back an acceptable loss…tactical nuclear weapons make people believe the delusion that you can actually use nuclear weapons as weapons of war….if you face only a strategic deterrent that says if you use any nuclear weapons on us you get a strategic deterrent back in the… Read more »
USA, Russia, China, France, India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea are 8 of the 9 known Nuclear Armed Nations all of them don’t agree with that logic. The 9th is us and we didn’t get rid of them for any strategic reason, we just did it so we didn’t need to spend money replacing them. So a Russian conventional war happens, the UK Brigade in the Baltic is singled out for a Tactical Nuclear Strike. Do the US and NATO countries counter strike to retaliate ? Doubt it ! They tell the Russians what hapens if they do it to… Read more »
Sorry not true India, Pakistan,Israel and North Korea do not have viable strategic nuclear deterrents..they only have tactical weapons in reality..so to have any form of nuclear power they have to use that…India and Pakistan would exchange their tactical nuclear weapons for a strategic deterrent in a flash if they could… france does not have tactical nuclear weapons it only has strategic weapons..it’s air launched TN81 warheads are variable yield 100-300kiloton warheads.which in everyone’s book is a strategic warhead. It’s sub launched ballistic missiles use 4-6 100kiloton MRVs..so France does not have a warhead smaller the 100kt which are all… Read more »
The point is that if a single nuke fell on France, they could respond with a single nuke. If a single nuke fell on Britain, we have two choices, launch a whole boatload of Trident & destroy the world, or do nothing & face defeat.
No France has always made its posture clear, any nuclear attack on France would see a full strategic response…the single strategic weapon is for explaining none nuclear transgressions that would lead to a full strategic nuclear response..basically if in a future time a nation was building an invasion force and invaded France it would use the single strategic nuclear weapon….but again to reiterate the French airborne nuclear deterrent is a strategic deterrent not a tactical one…it’s part of its strategic forces and would not be used tactically….if a nation invaded France…it would get one strategic nuclear weapon strike on its… Read more »
Wrong on so many levels. Whatever policy a government declares in peacetime, will fall apart in a real war.
Well you don’t know that I’m afraid, but the evidence I give is the actual counties stances…and the use and none use of these devices. simply put since their inception even in a wars of extremism, even against an enemy without nuclear weapons tactical nuclear weapons have never been used…and the only time nuclear weapons were ever used…they were not used as battlefield tactical nuclear weapons..they were used as strategic weapons on the other nations home soil..not against their military forces..because if you feel you need to use nuclear weapons you attack the nation you are fighting..not the army…armies don’t… Read more »
There is another article on this website saying NATO is worried Russia might be tempted to use a tactical nuke. The counter to that is to have our own tactical nuke, for the classic “Mexican stand off”. I would not waste a lot of money on tactical nukes, we only need 25-30, & if we can adapt an existing strategic nuke, as Trump did, then I think it is a useful bit of extra insurance.
Trump did take the 100 kt Trident warhead, remove the fusion boost, & got a very “clean” 5-10kt tactical nuke. The UK uses a very similar Trident warhead. What if the UK did the same & put it in a Paveway IV case? You woulnot need hundreds, 25-30 would be enough.
Believe weapons are currently deployed in Belgium, Germany, Italy, Netherlands and Turkey. Prudent measure to upgrade infrastructure at RAF Lakenheath to current storage and O&M specs, given existing geopolitical environment, even if no final deployment decision has been taken. 🤔
Agree, I support it.
It has been common knowledge for decades that nuclear weapons are stored at Volkel airbase (The Netherlands), but officially it’s a state secret. It is believed there are about 22 of them. Dutch fighter aircraft are able to carry them (currently F-16 and F-35A).
Problem is if Trump wins in November, this whole thing will be cancelled as he tries withdraw the US forces from Europe giving Putin a free hand to threaten Europe
How do you know this?
Reckon he might have Crystal Balls !
More like snooker balls.
Because Trump does not like NATO and remember that he back in 2020, he said that America would not come to Europe’s aid and this is the opposite of that, for Trump to not come to Europe ‘s aid, he will have to cancel this and pull all American military forces form Europe including their nukes
And you believe it will happen ? Personally I don’t, America has way too much to lose….. The bloke has serious personality Issues, he’s divisive, Incendiary and Egotistical on another level, America will be heading for another Civil War if he has his way……
Honestly i hope Trump loses in November
I hope it will be sooner ….. Haley has her work cut out though.
She is the only American politician that I’ve heard actually make sense! Still as most yanks haven’t got a passport and don’t realise there is a world out there god help us with those other two numpties🙄
“Most Yanks..” don’t have a clue about anything…..
America has three times more passport holders than the UK.
US 37%
UK 84%
That is not quite fair to be honest..the reason there are so few US passport holders is that you don’t need to leave the US to find your holiday pleasure…I’m sure if we had an entire continental land mass to play on ( from desert, to huge forest.vass mountain ranges, plains Great Lakes ect) then we would have fewer pass ports.
Not as a proportion of their population. Vast majority of Americans have never left America or travelled abroad.
The daft ones we see walking the streets of London, Oxford, Bath, Edinburgh are the educated open-minded thinkers.
Mostly illegal one’s
Shame
Polling ahead of Biden and everyone else. Unlikely. Maybe fear of him getting elected will force Europe into taking it’s defense seriously instead of freeloading on the US taxpayer.
They are not free loading, the politicians thought that the US would deal with it so they don’t have to pay for defence which was a mistake cause they do not like to pay for defence
Of course UK, and Europe are freeloading in USA.
Houthis is just the recent example.
Without US Israel would have fallen and October 7 would be occurring in southern coasts of Europe.
Which bits of southern Europe were under threat from Hamas ?
Without the US Israel would have never have existed.
What you describe is 100% freeloading. Proves my point in its entirety.
Europe built a utopia of free healthcare/college way outside of historical norms because it doesn’t have to pay for anything of substance defense related. Euro politicians are scared to acknowledge they can’t afford both.
As the demographics of the US increasingly shift from white to Latino/Asian, it will find my more focus on Asia and Latin America. The Nostalgic ties and moral obligation to defend Europe is fading fast.
Honestly I hope trump isn’t still alive in November!
Don’t forget, he has many golf course in Scotland, he definitely come to their aid. 😀
Good point !! 😉Seriously though.. Trump is actually one of my biggest worries amongst all of the other worries when it comes to the way things are going. Think I will go and have a whisky, perhaps a double one. 😆 Chill time! 😊Enjoy the rest of the Weekend All!
There is a rumour that a Trump second term may not be as bad as his first term. Republican think tanks are involved in his campaign this time & if he wins, the think tank will get capable people into US Government jobs quickly. Unlike last time, when Trump did not have a clue who to appoint & many senior posts remained unfilled.
#45 hasn’t a clue about lots of things just the classic male over confidence turned up to 11 by his narcissistic tendency. He’s a convicted fraudster and rapist so far with 91 indictments going to trial. So his track record of dealing with facts is very poor. He’s not a competent human being never mind business man. He’s on public record that he will be a Dictator and plans to replace the Constitution of the United States with full Executive power for him alone. The idea that he is a fit and proper person to get the US National Command… Read more »
I am no Trump fan boy, nor do I suffer from “Trump derangement syndrome”, that seems to have infected many on the left. We are where we are. I do not want Biden or Trump to stand for President, but sadly they probably will. we have to make the best of it. I would rather have seen the two governors stand, so California vs Florida, but that now seems unlikely.
With the unfortunate choice of Dictatorship or Democracy only Democracy can provide a better choice later… Many people around the world are invested in a rational approach to international relations and global trade. They won’t get that with a Dictator who only listens to sycophants and the voices in his own head.. Kaputin and chairman Xi would be delighted to have another dictator on the world stage as that will help them to advance their own plans. The ruzzian election interference is so much cheaper and low risk compared to the SMO in Ukraine. Let’s hope the CIA and NSA… Read more »
I am no fan of Trump, but lets not lose our heads. The US system has many checks & balances. Trump could not do everything he wanted first time around. Congress & Senate have not gone away.
Those wacky Americans they make a washed up ex cowboy actor and a megalomaniac their president. They’ll get exactly what they deserve.and we’ll all suffer for it.
Hehe, i remember the horrible talk by the media against Ronald Reagan.
The Soviet Union certainly did not fall because of journalists but despite them.
Reagan did actually cause the downfall of the USSR…he may have been an actor..but he had a profound grasp of the Geopolitics and turned the “west” around…( see what I did there…)
Trump is a W ⚓ R 😡
He’s much poorer too now that he was held to account for his victim abuse in the E.Jean Carroll rape case in New York Court. The first time he was found liable and $5 Million damages awarded. Because he couldn’t help himself from defaming her further the latest case accepted his guilt and awarded $83 Million damages against him. While he was in court for the trial he posted many more on social media so it’s possible that there will be a third trial for defamation. The absence of judgement.. I would hope that the Judge imposes an injunction to… Read more »
This shows how political this has got. In any normal case, the damages would have been a fraction of this, but if you go to a court where they hate Trump, you will get a warped judgement. Justice is supposed to wear a blindfold & hold the scales of justice. Yes, Trump was wrong, but he should not be punished more than anyone else. Bringing politics into court judgement is dangerous & could backfire. Biden’s deals for example.
Since he was found liable in the first trial the second trial was only about the defamation compensation aka damages. The standard court procedure is for representing lawyers to enter briefs and make oral arguments in front of the Judge and Jury. The Judge is responsible for knowing the law and keeping the lawyers on the substance of the case. The Jury are the triers of facts as enabled by the Judge on the law and summary after the evidence and arguments are heard. The prior process of Jury selection is to ensure that bias or pre-judgement is not in… Read more »
People who hate Trump, find him guilty, shock!
The Industrial Military Complex would suddenly lose all of its customers outside of NATO. I would see Trump getting an invite to a third-floor celebratory party and slipping on one of his dropped cheeseburgers and falling out of a window.
Paint a target on our backs why don’t you. Hsvevtheybheardcod doing things secretly
“Hsvevtheybheardcod”……. Anyone ???? 🤔😂
I am no more enlightened than you are
Anyone have a friend in GCHQ, this might be important …
😂
Russian to English translation not going well.
I’m not overly happy with this issue. Our own independent deterrent mustn’t be overshadowed. To me it’s who has the finger on the button that counts
Certainly not a wannabe dictator and deluded fantasist who doesn’t control his narcissistic behaviour or his digestive tract.
Donald Von Schitzenpants as he’s know in NYC.
Feels like Greenham Common all over again. In the week Putin visits Kaliningrad? Out comes this. Be honest, it is just back to Cold War threat versus threat. Like too lads in a peeing up a wall contest. People forget Russia has one main weakness now. No Warpac, so its ability to advance into Europe is limited by logistics, yes it could threaten Baltic states and Finland, but it has hardly been an outstanding military campaign in Ukraine has it?
My givea!uckometre is on zero.
I doubt there is any special relationship between the UK and the US except when our service people have to fight side by side; we will always be there for them, and they will be there for us.
Simples.
“Always” ? It’s a long time in either direction and not so long ago the US drew up “The Red Plan”……
Good. With Putin & North Kores making reckless threats of nuclear attacks against anyone they feel threatened or opposed by we need to make sure they know they’ll never get away with it.
It’s also essential to have strong conventional forces to deter, plus also to ensure nukes are only used as a very last existential resort.