The UK will acquire at least twelve new F-35 fighter jets from the US that are capable of carrying nuclear armaments, as Prime Minister Keir Starmer aims to gain support from President Donald Trump while preparing for a potential decrease in American security assistance. 

Starmer revealed plans to obtain the Lockheed Martin Corp. F-35A stealth aircraft before the NATO summit in The Hague, marking the Royal Air Force’s first engagement in a nuclear role in 25 years.

Recently, the UK has relied solely on the constant operation of nuclear-armed submarines to serve as a strategic deterrent against adversaries like Russia. 

This announcement coincides with NATO's strategy to establish a new defense spending goal of 5 percent  of economic output during its meeting. This initiative is intended to appease the US president, who has often criticized European nations for their inadequate security spending.

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Defense Secretary John Healey: “We’re facing increasing threats; we’re facing rising nuclear risks.  This is not the UK taking on a new nuclear weapon; it’s playing a part in the established nuclear mission in NATO.”

Although Starmer’s office did not disclose the expected expenditure for the aircraft or their delivery timeline, acquiring 12 F-35As would amount to roughly $1 billion based on recent pricing. The prime minister’s office announced that the UK would manage 15 percent of the jets' supply chain, which would sustain around 20,000 jobs.

 Starmer is optimistic that the agreement will be perceived as a sign of goodwill by Trump, who generally shows strong support for the alliance between the US and Britain and often reacts positively to major international arms agreements.

 

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This approach has yielded mixed outcomes so far, as Trump has refused European pleas for stricter US sanctions against Russia following its invasion of Ukraine and has disregarded calls to refrain from launching airstrikes on Iran over the past weekend.