In response to an escalating threat from Russia, the United States is reportedly planning to deploy nuclear weapons in the UK for the first time in 15 years. According to Pentagon documents obtained from the US Department of Defense's procurement database, the proposal suggests placing warheads, three times more potent than the Hiroshima bomb, at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk.

RAF Lakenheath, which previously housed nuclear missiles during the Cold War, had them removed in 2008 when the perceived threat from Moscow diminished. However, plans for a new facility at the airbase, including construction of a housing facility for US soldiers, reveal the US's "imminent" plans to station B61-12 gravity bombs. These bombs have a variable yield of up to 50 kilotons, making them more than three times more powerful than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima in 1945.

The Pentagon has remained tight-lipped about the conjecture surrounding a recently disclosed "surety dormitory," as outlined in budget documents last year. Operated by the US Air Force under British regulations and laws, RAF Lakenheath could potentially accommodate tactical nuclear weapons deployable by F-35 fighter jets.

Activists protested outside RAF Lakenheath in 2022 when reports surfaced about the potential deployment of US warheads. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Maria Zakharova expressed concern, attributing the move to the United States and NATO adopting an aggressive stance against Russia. In response, Russia stated that it would take countermeasures to safeguard its security interests and those of its allies. Meanwhile, the UK Ministry of Defence spokesperson adhered to the longstanding policy of neither confirming nor denying the presence of nuclear weapons at any specific location, in alignment with both UK and NATO policy.

These reported plans are part of a broader NATO initiative aimed at developing and bolstering nuclear facilities in response to rising tensions with Russia. Prominent figures within the United Kingdom have been urging civilians and the government to brace themselves for a possible conflict between NATO and Russian forces.

While Admiral Rob Bauer, a senior NATO military official, warned of a potential full-scale war with Russia within the next two decades, General Sir Patrick Sanders, head of the British Army, suggested that the public might be called upon to join the fight due to the army's insufficient size. However, Downing Street dismissed the notion of conscription, and former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson voiced support for a citizen army, pledging his readiness to enlist if the UK were to engage in conflict with Russia.

Amidst these developments, details from the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) reveal that the UK has been included in the list of countries undergoing infrastructure upgrades to store "special weapons" in Europe. Approximately 100 B61 gravity bombs are estimated to be stored in Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey, and eventually the UK. The deployment of US nuclear weapons in the UK dates back to 1954, and despite upgrades, the B61 bombs are viewed as relics of the Cold War era.

While the arrival of the new B61-12 version in Europe was expected last year, no official confirmation has been provided. However, the new F-35A Lightning II fighters have received certification to be equipped with modernized bombs, and the US has announced intentions to deploy two squadrons of these fifth-generation fighter jets capable of carrying the B61-12 gravity bombs. These squadrons will be stationed with the 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath.