The CIA Agent Who Said She Authored the 2017 Report on Russian Collusion,...
Brennan/Clapper's Insane NYT Op-Ed Burns to Ash After Durham Annex Disclosure
Here Are the Top Lies John Brennan Told to Push the Russian Collusion...
Frail Man Who Hid Prostate Cancer From Public Emerges to Deliver Incoherent Address...
Trump’s Economy Is a Private-Sector Comeback
The Cincinnati Cop-Outs
Royalty Transparency Act
Don’t Be a Climate Panican
Gaza Endgame, Part 17
Fitting Punishments for Barack Obama?
Is ‘Gen Z’ a Target Voting Bloc for Collectivism?
There's Been a Disturbing Update About the Arkansas Couple Murdered While Hiking With...
Pennsylvania Powers the Nation’s Future—No Thanks to Its Governor
Michael Whatley Announces U.S. Senate Run
Mayor Adams Vetoes Bill Decriminalizing Unlicensed Vendors on NYC Streets
Tipsheet

Stealth, Nukes, and NATO: Britain Re-Arms for a New Era

AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File

The United Kingdom has decided to ramp up its nuclear deterrence, reverting to its Cold War-era posture amidst growing concerns in Europe of national security threats. According to the Wall Street Journal, the UK is set to purchase 12 American F-35A stealth fighters, capable of carrying not only conventional, but nuclear-armed ordnance. The purchase of these fighters will enable the UK to fire nuclear warheads from the air for the first time since the late 1990s. Currently, the UK's nuclear weapons can only be deployed from its 4 Vanguard submarines.

Advertisement

The shift in nuclear policy is driven by two forces: escalating Russian aggression in Ukraine and President Trump insisting that NATO countries increase their defense spending as a percentage of GDP. President Trump and his Republican base have repeatedly criticized NATO’s dependence on American capital and the chronic lack of funding by European allies. While some in Europe have started to ramp up their defense spending, the underlying concerns of European leaders haven’t gone away. As a result of President Trump's pressure, Britain, along with multiple other NATO nations, has pledged a 5 percent increase in its defense spending. 

With President Trump also dialing back America's financial commitment to Ukraine, European leaders further worry that a Russian victory could reshape the balance of power in the region. Only France and the UK possess nuclear weapons, and a boost to their arsenals is seen as an "incremental improvement," according to James Black, deputy director at RAND Europe. NATO’s secretary-general, Mark Rutte, also approved of the purchase, calling it "a robust British contribution to the alliance.” 

Advertisement

Join the conversation as a VIP Member

Recommended

Trending on Townhall Videos

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement