The UK is buying F-35 fighter jets that can carry nuclear weapons, but they will need Trump’s approval before they can drop the bomb.
The UK will buy and participate in 12 US-made F-35A fighter jets that can carry nuclear bombs NATO’s Share the airborne core mission in the vast expansion of its nuclear deterrent power; Prime Minister Kiel Announced on Wednesday.
The government called it “the greatest strengthening of Britain’s nuclear stance in a generation.”
While attending the NATO summit in the Netherlands, Starme made an announcement. NATO Secretary General Mark Latte welcomed the decision and called it “yet another robust British contribution to NATO.”
Britain phased out atomic weapons that had dropped air from the end of the Cold War to the 1990s. Its nuclear Arsenal is currently made up of submarine-based missiles.
Only three NATO members, the US, UK and France, are nuclear power, and seven countries are contributing to the Alliance’s nuclear mission by donating jets that can carry either traditional weapons stocked in Europe or American B61 bombs.
The use of nuclear weapons by the UK as part of the mission will require approval from the NATO nuclear program group and the US President and the British Prime Minister.
Marion Mesmer of the Chatham House Think Tank’s International Security Programme said the government had avoided saying whether US nuclear weapons were based on British soil.
“The UK doesn’t have the nuclear weapons themselves that can be deployed through this aircraft,” Mesmer said. “In other NATO states participating in this mission, US nuclear weapons will also be held on their territory. These weapons are entirely under US control.”
Stage has also announced that the UK will provide 350 air defense missiles to Ukraine and fund 70 million pounds ($95 million) raised from interest on seized Russian assets.
The announcement comes when the UK and other NATO members pledge Increase your spending on security By 2035, it will be up to 5% of gross domestic product. The total includes 3.5% of defense and 1.5% of broader security and resilience efforts.
The UK is currently spending 2.3% of its national income on defense, saying it will rise to 2.6% by 2027.