The British prime minister believes his country must “actively prepare” for a direct attack.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has warned of the “grim reality” of a nuclear threat from Vladimir Putin's Russia, which is why the British military is being beefed up with new bombers and submarines.
This was reported by The Daily Mail
The British prime minister's warning came as he met MPs after attending a NATO summit and a meeting of G7 leaders last week, where the war in Ukraine was a major topic of discussion.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Keir Starmer called on the US and other British partners to “increase the pressure now, with additional sanctions and military support, to bring Russia to the table and agree an unconditional ceasefire”.
The British prime minister celebrated the decision to buy 12 nuclear-capable F-35A fighter-bombers, the first time the Royal Air Force will have nuclear weapons in more than 30 years.
Starmer said the UK's nuclear deterrent had “kept this country safe for decades” and continued: “But we recognise today's grim reality that the nuclear threat is growing, so we are reviewing our existing capabilities at sea and going further.”
The £80m fighters, a variant of the F35-B that the UK already uses, can carry conventional weapons but can also be fitted with nuclear bombs. They are expected to carry the US B-61 nuclear gravity bombs, which can kill thousands.
This comes after the recent announcement that the UK will build up to 12 new attack submarines. The new conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines will replace the Astute-class submarines from the late 2030s.
The UK's military build-up comes amid an alarming new report that outlines the growing threats facing the UK.
A national security strategy published yesterday said the country must “actively prepare” for a direct attack on British soil in a potential “war scenario” for the first time in years.
The report highlighted Russian cyber-attacks and sabotage against the UK, hostile activity by Iran on British soil and other adversaries that are “laying the groundwork for future conflict”.
Recall that earlier NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said that it would be naive to underestimate the threat from Russia
