UK plans to enhance nuclear role in Europe amid uncertainty over US commitment

The United Kingdom is preparing to take a more prominent role in NATO’s nuclear deterrence as doubts grow over the United States’ commitment to European defence.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged to make Britain “war-ready” to counter Russian aggression in Europe, signaling a strategic shift in the country’s defence posture, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

According to a source familiar with the matter, the UK government is exploring new capabilities, including fighter jets equipped to launch nuclear weapons, as part of plans to boost its nuclear contribution to NATO. This initiative would complement the ongoing renewal of the UK’s Trident nuclear deterrent—a £15 billion ($20 billion) investment covering nuclear warheads and the construction of up to 12 new submarines under the AUKUS partnership with Australia and the US.

The push comes amid broader concerns in Europe regarding the US’s reliability in providing nuclear deterrence. William Alberque, senior fellow at the Pacific Forum in Berlin, explained, “It’s to offset the risks of US detachment.” European leaders have expressed urgency to increase defense spending following US President Donald Trump’s demands that NATO members shoulder a greater share of their own security costs.

The UK’s Strategic Defence Review, published on June 2, emphasized the need for Britain to play a larger role in NATO’s nuclear deterrent. It recommended commencing discussions with the US to “shoulder more of the burden” of nuclear defence.

Ahead of the review’s release, Starmer said, “There has been a sense that the balance between Europe and the US has to be reconsidered and there has to be a greater burden on Europe. They have a point. We collectively need to step up.” The defense document further stated that the UK is “well-placed” to enhance deterrence across the Euro-Atlantic region, particularly as the US faces “the unprecedented challenge of facing two near-peer nuclear powers, Russia and China.”

Currently, the UK operates four ballistic missile submarines as part of its Trident program, maintaining at least one on continuous patrol to ensure an undetectable nuclear deterrent.

By Vafa Guliyeva