Will retaliate, Russia: If the United States deploys nuclear weapons in the UK, British media speculate that the United States is preparing to redeploy nuclear weapons in the UK

The Guardian recently reported that there are indications that the United States may redeploy tactical nuclear weapons in the UK after a 15 year hiatus. On September 5th, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zakharova stated that any action to redeploy US nuclear weapons back to the UK will be seen by Russia as a disruption to the regional security situation, and Russia will take countermeasures to ensure its own security.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zakharova: If the United States redeploys nuclear weapons in the UK, Russia will see it as an escalation of the situation, contrary to the United States' mission to withdraw nuclear weapons from European countries, which is part of NATO's so-called "joint nuclear mission.".

Zakharova also stated that in recent years, NATO, led by the United States, has continuously engaged non nuclear countries in simulated training for nuclear weapon strikes against Russia through so-called "joint nuclear missions," attempting to achieve a "strategic defeat" against Russia. To ensure the security of Russia and its allies, the Russian side will take countermeasures against this.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zakharova: For many years, the Russian side has stated that NATO's actions bring strategic risks and undermine regional security and stability. But NATO has always ignored Russia's demands and even claimed to promote a "nuclear alliance". This approach and its way of action will force Russia to take corresponding countermeasures to ensure the security interests of itself and its allies.

On August 29th, The Guardian reported that the US Congress recently approved a funding of $50 million to the US Air Force to build dormitories for personnel carrying out "potential security missions" at LakenHeath Air Force Base in the UK. The Guardian quoted American analysts as saying that the term "potential security mission" is often used by the US Department of Defense to refer to the use of nuclear weapons, indicating that the US may be preparing to redeploy nuclear weapons to the UK. In the 2023 US defense budget, the UK is listed as one of the countries undergoing infrastructure construction for "special weapon" storage sites.

The Guardian reported that the United States first deployed nuclear weapons in the UK in 1954 and built bunkers at multiple Royal Air Force bases in the UK to store nuclear weapons. These bunkers can store approximately 110 B61 tactical nuclear bombs in total. In 2007, the United States withdrew the B61 nuclear bomb from the UK, but the corresponding storage facilities were not dismantled but sealed.

In response to the news that the United States will redeploy nuclear weapons in the UK, a spokesperson for the UK Ministry of Defense neither acknowledges nor denies it. The UK Nuclear Disarmament Movement has stated that the deployment of US nuclear weapons in the UK could make the UK a potential target for any nuclear war.

The United States deploys approximately 100 nuclear bombs in five European countries

The Guardian also mentioned that in addition to the UK, five European countries, Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Türkiye, are also included in the 2023 defense budget of the United States as countries undergoing infrastructure construction for "special weapons" storage sites. The Association of American Scientists, a think tank that has long been concerned about nuclear disarmament, estimates that the United States currently deploys about 100 tactical nuclear bombs in these five NATO countries.

According to the website of the Association for Foreign Relations in the United States, the deployment of nuclear weapons in Europe began in 1954 and was first deployed in the United Kingdom. Subsequently, it was transferred to Germany, Italy, France, Türkiye, the Netherlands, Greece and Belgium. In the 1970s, the number of nuclear weapons deployed by the United States in Europe reached its peak, exceeding 7000. Subsequently, due to factors such as nuclear disarmament and the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the number began to decrease.

The Federation of American Scientists has previously released a report that the number of nuclear weapons deployed by the United States in Europe is about 100 in six military bases in Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Türkiye. It is understood that these nuclear weapons are under the control of the United States Air Force and can only be used in war with authorization from the President of the United States and approval from NATO.

Although the number of nuclear weapons deployed by the United States in the European region has decreased, the United States has continuously accelerated the upgrading and improvement of nuclear weapons in recent years.

The Guardian reported that the latest version of the B61-12 nuclear bomb will arrive in Europe within this year to replace the B61 nuclear bomb that had been in service for over 50 years. The research results published by the Federation of American Scientists in 2014 showed that compared to some early upgraded versions of B61, B61-12 carries smaller nuclear warheads but with higher accuracy and can penetrate the surface.

Russia regards the nuclear weapons deployed by the United States in Europe as "remnants of the Cold War.". The Russian side stated that the deployment of nuclear weapons by the United States in Europe has raised concerns about the feasibility of the Treaty on the Non Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. The Russian side has proposed that the United States should withdraw nuclear weapons deployed in Europe, eliminate infrastructure that can store, maintain, and rapidly deploy nuclear weapons in NATO countries in Europe, and cease training for relevant personnel.