Overview

• At the NATO summit in The Hague, Prime Minister Keir Starmer will announce the purchase of 12 F-35A jets configured to carry U.S. B61 nuclear bombs.
• This marks Britain’s first airborne nuclear deterrent since the Cold War, diversifying its submarine-only arsenal.
• The jets will require U.S. approval for any nuclear strike under NATO’s nuclear sharing framework.
• Earlier this month, the U.K. committed to spending 5% of its GDP on security and agreed to build 12 nuclear attack submarines and six munitions factories under the AUKUS pact.
• Officials cite Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as the primary driver behind the expanded deterrence posture.