British bases operated by the US military and used to launch illegal attacks on Iran and host US nuclear weapons are set for at least £3 billion in upgrades, according to Pentagon documents seen by the Guardian.
RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk, where mounting evidence suggests US B61-12 nuclear bombs are now stationed, will receive the highest portion of the funding. According to the report, $1.6 billion will be spent on constructing storage bunkers as well as “modernising facilities to help covert units run secret operations.” Lakenheath hosts nuclear-capable F-35A fighter jets and has been an important transit hub for US fighters deploying to the Middle East to attack Iran.
A further $1.1 billion will be spent on upgrading nearby RAF Mildenhall, which hosts refuelling aircraft that have recently supported long-range bombing missions over Iran. US special operations forces are also based at Mildenhall and a portion of the upgrades will go towards building purpose-built facilities to house their aircraft such as the CV-22 Osprey.
$500 million will be spent on a new hanger complex and accommodation at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire. An influx of heavy bombers such as the B-1 and nuclear-capable B-52 have been deployed to the Cotswolds airbase since earlier this year and were running twice-daily bombing missions over Iran during the illegal war against that country.
$161 million will also be spent at the US spy base at RAF Menwith Hill, near Harrogate in Yorkshire. This is the biggest US spy base outside of the United States and is part of Trump’s so-called ‘Golden Dome’ Missile Defence System. What this will be spent on remains undisclosed.
CND General Secretary Sophie Bolt said:
“These billion dollar upgrades show that the US is modernising British bases for its aggressive wars. The upgrades reinforce previous evidence that US nuclear weapons are stationed at Lakenheath. These war crimes bases have been vital in allowing the US to act with impunity across the globe, including supporting Israel’s genocide against the Palestinian people, causing a global crisis by illegally attacking Iran – and now threatening nuclear confrontation. They have nothing to do with keeping Britain safe. In fact, they make us all a target. The new incoming Prime Minister should do the right thing and end this military alliance and shut these bases down. Instead, we get shameful silence that makes Britain complicit in the war crimes perpetrated by Donald Trump and Benjamin Netahnyau. We call on supporters to join us at the upcoming 4 July Independence from America Day protests this weekend, taking place at RAF Menwith Hill and RAF Fairford.”