For the First Time Since 2008: US Redeploys Nuclear Weapons to the UK Amidst Rising Geopolitical Tensions

Recent press reports have unveiled a significant strategic move by the United States, as it has redeployed nuclear weapons to British soil for the first time since 2008. Experts view this step as part of a comprehensive adjustment in NATO's nuclear strategy in Europe, following the geopolitical repercussions of the war in Ukraine.

According to The Times newspaper, a US Air Force C-17 military transport aircraft landed last Thursday at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk, eastern England. The aircraft originated from Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico, one of the primary storage facilities for US Air Force nuclear weapons. Military analysis suggests that this flight likely carried nuclear warheads, marking the return of US nuclear weapons to the United Kingdom after their withdrawal in 2008 during the administration of former US President Barack Obama.

Observers noted several indicators supporting this conclusion. The airspace above RAF Lakenheath was restricted during the aircraft's landing, and the aircraft did not immediately return to the United States after unloading its cargo. These details strongly suggest that the flight was for a "permanent transfer" of nuclear weapons rather than merely a military exercise or a temporary mission.

International Reactions and Implications of the Decision

This news did not go unnoticed internationally. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov commented on the reports, stating: "We see a trend towards escalating tension, towards armament, including nuclear armament." Peskov added that "our relevant agencies are monitoring developments in this area and are taking necessary measures to ensure our security against the backdrop of what is happening," indicating that Russia considers this step a threat and is preparing potential countermeasures.

Earlier, The Telegraph newspaper had revealed details of an "upcoming nuclear mission" at Lakenheath, based on inadvertently published unclassified US documents, confirming that this move had been in planning for some time.

Both the US and British Ministries of Defense officially declined to comment on the reports, adhering to their policies that prohibit disclosing the locations of nuclear weapons storage, a routine procedure in such cases.

RAF Lakenheath serves as the home to the 48th Fighter Wing of the US Air Force, which includes squadrons of F-15E "Strike Eagle" fighters and advanced fifth-generation F-35A aircraft. The United Kingdom is expected to equip its new squadron of F-35A aircraft with US nuclear munitions stored in the country. This development enhances Britain's nuclear capabilities within the NATO framework.

In a recently issued document, the UK Ministry of Defense confirmed that this move "restores the nuclear role of the Royal Air Force for the first time since the withdrawal of WE.177 nuclear bombs at the end of the Cold War in 1998." This underscores that the decision represents a fundamental shift in British defense policy and revives nuclear capabilities that have been dormant for decades.