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For Immediate Release
January, 24 2025, 11:16am EDT
Contact:
Pádraig McCarrick, 07968 420859
CND Calls On Starmer to 'Come Clean' Over Possible US Nuke Deployment
London
The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament calls on the British government’s to end its secrecy over the deployment of US nuclear weapons to Britain.
It follows comments made last week by Jill Hruby, the (now former) Administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration in the US, that the new B61-12 nuclear bombs “are fully forward deployed.” This military terminology suggests that the bombs are now being delivered, or are already deployed, to NATO bases across western Europe, and possibly Britain. Since 2021, nuclear facilities at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk have been upgraded, including nuclear bomb shelters.
However, the British government has refused to provide any information about the situation, falling back on its position of ‘nuclear ambiguity’, to neither confirm nor deny the developments.
Writing to Prime Minister, Keir Starmer and Defence Secretary, John Healey, CND General, Secretary, Sophie Bolt, said:
“It is totally unacceptable that the news of this ‘forward deployment’ has been discovered through posts on X and US department websites. As far as we are aware, there has been no announcement by government to parliament about this crucial information.
There has also been no information presented to local communities about the new security risks that they face. US nuclear weapons at RAF Lakenheath will present a major threat, not only to communities near the base, but to Britain as a whole, by putting us all on the US/NATO nuclear front line.
I urge you to make a public statement to clarify the situation at RAF Lakenheath.”
• The B61-12 satellite guided bombs have three times the destructive power of the US atomic bomb, which killed over 200,000 people in Hiroshima in 1945.
• Polling shows that 59% of the population oppose US nuclear weapons being stationed in Britain
• Monthly actions against US nuclear weapons are taking place at the US air base organised by Lakenheath Action for Peace.
• The next vigil will be outside the main gate of the base from 12 noon on Saturday, 25 January.
• A peace camp is being organised for 14 to 25 April, culminating in a blockade of the base on Saturday 26 April.
Notes to editors
Full letter can be viewed here.
CND campaigns non-violently to rid the world of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction and to create genuine security for future generations. CND opposes all nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction: their development, manufacture, testing, deployment and use or threatened use by any country.
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Co-president of the watchdog group Public Citizen, Robert Weissman, decried the move, writing in a statement Thursday that "Trump is pushing crypto because he's in on the racket."
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