Russia earlier denounced NATO debates on reinforcing the blocβs nuclear posture as βescalatoryβ
The US has likely deployed nuclear weapons to Britain for the first time in over 15 years, in a potential warning to Russia, Bloomberg reported on Monday, citing open-source data and defense experts.
On July 16, a US military transport aircraft flew with its transponder active from Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico β an installation known to house nuclear weapons β to RAF Lakenheath in eastern England, the report says. The aircraft is believed to have carried B61-12 thermonuclear bombs, which would mark the first known US nuclear deployment to the UK since 2008, according to several defense analysts.
Former senior NATO arms control official William Alberque said leaving the aircraftβs transponder on was intentional and appeared to be aimed at sending a message to Moscow. βThis is a down payment that thereβs more to come on shifting NATOβs deterrence posture toward strengthening,β he said. βReturning US nuclear weapons to the UK is no small feat.β
The US delivered nuclear weapons to the United Kingdom by plane with transponders on as a signal to Russia, writes "Bloomberg".
— S p r i n t e r (@GeoWarScope1) July 28, 2025
βͺοΈIn this way, Washington shows that it "is not reducing its nuclear presence in Europe". pic.twitter.com/Um9EWAUqnE
