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A Nuclear Romance: Britain’s Co-dependency with America for Weapons of Mass Destruction

Demonstration with a banner reading "No US Nukes in Britain". A crowd of people hold placards depicting the peace sign.

There is a toxic romance between America and the United Kingdom, marked by a co-dependent nuclear alliance. The approach of a US election is a good time to consider the reality of the so-called British nuclear weapon system – its integration with and dependence on the United States of America. To understand it, we have to go back in history. 

After the Second World War, British prime ministers wanted Britain to have nuclear bombs to keep up with America. Despite being the third country to develop nuclear weapons, and being involved in the Manhattan Project, the UK soon became dependent on the US to maintain their programme for nuclear weapons of mass destruction. In exchange for participation in a joint nuclear weapons programme named “Skybolt”, the US was given access to build a (much-protested) nuclear submarine base at Holy Loch, in Scotland. Though the programme was broken up in 1962, the zombie relationship  lingered on.  

The Chagos Island Deportations 

In 1966, the people of Diego Garcia were cleared from their island by force. Why? To make way for a US military base.

We have now learned there was link to Faslane naval base in Scotland (site of the UK’s nuclear submarines).  In return for the colonial islands being cleared, the UK Government received a discount on its purchase of US Polaris missiles.

Labour fought the 1964 election with a promise not to continue with the plans to base Polaris missiles in Scotland. Once elected, they not only reversed this promise, but deported nearly 2000 Chagossians from their homes in the process. 

While most of the Chagos Islands have since become Mauritian territory, the US have been given a lease to Diego Garcia into the next century. Chagossians, living mainly on the islands of Mauritius and Seychelles, have had no say in the matter.

This is only one example of the nuclear alliance between the UK and the USA.

To this day, the British nuclear weapons programme can only exist because of ‘sharing’ with America.

US Nuclear Weapons at RAF Lakenheath

The United States is involved at every level of the so-called British nuclear weapon system, from design and procurement to operation and targeting. The flow of knowledge, technology, materials and military personnel between the US and the UK is made possible by a number of treaties, most importantly the Mutual Defence Agreement treaty.

There is now evidence that US nuclear weapons are returning to Britain, to be kept at the RAF Lakenheath base, in Suffolk. The 110 bombs originally kept at Lakenheath were removed in 2008 due to protests and diminishing tension between Russia and the West. We are deeply concerned that the response to increased political strain is to allow the USA to bring them back. 

CND Protests in Response to Nuclear Weapons at Lakenheath

To protest against this development, CND are holding a national demonstration on November 2nd at 12pm. 

Kate Hudson, CND Chair provides more detail:

“Since the news broke that RAF Lakenheath was being upgraded to host the newest US nuclear bombs, CND has been at the forefront of preventing their return to Britain. In addition to joining local, national, and international peace groups in the Lakenheath Alliance for Peace, we have challenged the legality of the planning rights used by the base for construction works integral for a new US nuclear weapons mission. 

Our next protest on 2 November will be the fourth national action of this campaign, and we are delighted to be joined by Melissa Parke, Executive Director of ICAN, who will be speaking on the dangers of nuclear weapons in Europe and NATO nuclear sharing. Whether it’s British nuclear weapons in Faslane or US ones at Lakenheath, their presence raises the risk of a nuclear accident and ensures we are on the frontline of any US/NATO nuclear war.”

In Scotland we’re holding a sister demonstration at Faslane Naval Base, Helensburgh. 

Demonstration Details

Meet at Faslane Peace Camp at 12pm, to walk up to the North Gate of Faslane Naval Base.

⏰November 2nd, 12-2pm
📍HMNB Clyde, Faslane, Helensburgh G84 0EH

If you’re concerned about increasing nuclear proliferation, join us to say “No nuclear weapons. Not at Lakenheath. Not in Scotland. Not Anywhere.” 

The Lakenheath Alliance for Peace 

The Lakenheath Alliance for Peace (LAP), of which Scottish CND is a part, is a group of peace groups working to get US nuclear weapons removed from the RAF Lakenheath Base.

LAP has been organising monthly vigils at RAF Lakenheath. This is a significant effort, and we warmly encourage other groups to join these vigils. Participating groups can use this opportunity to explore the base’s surroundings, familiarize themselves with the layout for future actions, and potentially leaflet the nearby villages and towns.

The vigils will take place at the main gate of RAF Lakenheath from 12-2pm on the last Saturday of every month, except December. Here are the upcoming dates:

November 30th 2024

January 25th 2025

February 22nd 2025 (Scottish Delegation – contact scnd@banthebomb.org to join us)

March 29th 2025

The next Peace Camp at RAF Lakenheath will be Monday 14th April to Friday 25th April 2025.

Dark blue text on a white background reads "No Nuclear Weapons, Not at Lakenheath, Not in Scotland, Not Anywhere."