Britain is preparing to redevelop its nuclear weapons exercises and capabilities, which it abandoned with the end of the Cold War three decades ago. It has announced the purchase of a dozen F-35A fighter jets capable of dropping nuclear bombs and other conventional weapons from the US.

In a statement released by Prime Minister Keir Starmer's office, these aircraft are referred to as 'the biggest step of this generation in increasing Britain's nuclear power'. 

According to Downing Street, the British military will carry nuclear weapons for the first time since the Cold War with this purchase. It would rejoin the UK in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) nuclear partnership programme. Currently, 7 countries including Germany, Italy, Belgium and Turkey are participating in this partnership. All countries possess US aerial nuclear weapons. From the maintenance of most of these weapons, some practices are controlled by the United States. 

Britain is going to buy the F-35A jet aircraft manufactured by the American company Lockheed Martin. Such news coming out during the NATO summit is seen as meaningful. At the conference, member states readily agreed on a target of increasing their country's defense spending to 5 percent of their gross domestic product (GDP).

Currently they spend up to 2 percent of GDP on defense, according to Reuters. US President Donald Trump had a major objection to the issue of only 2 percent spending. He has been complaining that when European countries depend on the US for defense, the US has a huge financial burden. 

After the Cold War between the United States and the then Soviet Union that lasted from 1947 to 1991, Britain stopped its program of atomic bombs dropped by the Royal Air Force. After the end of the Cold War, the collapse of the Soviet Union and the reduction of the possibility of nuclear war between Western countries, Britain deactivated its nuclear program to cut costs. Now that the Russian threat has increased and unrest is spreading in the world, Britain is again trying to acquire aerial nuclear weapons. Britain currently only has naval nuclear weapons.

"In today's more uncertain times, we cannot say that there will always be peace in the world, so our government is investing in the security of the country," Prime Minister Starmer said, "These planes can carry both conventional and nuclear weapons." They will make our British Air Force even more powerful. It will help deter any enemy who threatens Britain and our allies.' 

According to Al Jazeera, NATO Secretary General Mark Root has welcomed this announcement by Britain and responded that "Britain has made another important contribution to NATO". The NATO Summit was held in The Hague, Netherlands on Tuesday and Wednesday this week. According to news agency AFP, seven NATO member states, including the US, Germany and Italy, currently have dual-capable fighter jets that can carry both conventional and nuclear weapons. That is why they are considered powerful. 

Britain is going to buy a fighter plane in order to annoy Trump who said that NATO member countries have not invested enough in the defense sector. After purchasing the world's most advanced and most expensive aircraft, the UK has stated that it will create 20,000 jobs in the UK and more than a hundred suppliers can contribute to the F35 program. 

"There is no place to question Britain's commitment to NATO, nor to doubt NATO's contribution to keeping Britain safe," Prime Minister Starmer said, "but we must all take steps to preserve the Euro-Atlantic region for future generations."

According to Reuters, Britain's nuclear capability currently relies on a system based on sea-based nuclear weapons (the Trident submarine missile). A test of this system failed last year. Tactical nuclear weapons are designed to be used on the battlefield, while strategic weapons are designed to be used over long distances. The US has land-based, sea-based and air-based nuclear weapons.

Britain has agreed and committed to US President Trump's proposal to increase its total defense and security spending to 5 percent of GDP by 2035. 

After Spain said that it is not necessary to meet the goal of defense spending of 5 percent of GDP, Trump threatened Spain and said that he would pay twice as much in the trade agreement in return. "I like Spain, it's a very nice place, the people there are also nice, but Spain is the only country that refuses to pay money," Trump said. They will have to pay us more in business.' 

In the midst of growing geopolitical tensions, ongoing conflicts and new challenges, various countries have started to invest significantly in their defense systems and accumulate advanced weapons. Trump has responded to NATO members' agreement to raise defense spending to 5 percent of GDP by 2035 as a major achievement for Europe and Western civilization. According to the news written by journalist Hena Dougal in Al Jazeera, if NATO member countries increase military spending in this way, it will reduce investment in basic public needs such as education and health services. 

According to a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, the total military expenditure in the world in 2024 exceeded 2.7 trillion dollars. America, the world's largest military spender, is investing in nuclear weapons and advanced technology to modernize its military capabilities. Reuters reporter Mike Stone writes that Trump wants to invest in high-tech missiles and drones and has emphasized increasing the pay of the military. He has proposed reducing the number of naval and military vessels to save costs. According to the budget document released on Wednesday, a budget of 892.6 billion dollars has been requested for defense and national security.