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US plans $4bn boost to UK airbases, files suggest nuclear storage

newsJun 30, 20261180

Pentagon files released to the Guardian show planned US spending of about $4 billion to upgrade airbases in the United Kingdom, with a separate $163 million allocation for the Menwith Hill intelligence site. The papers identify construction of new facilities that the files say may be used to store US nuclear weapons on UK soil. The documents also follow earlier information indicating that some existing underground bunkers have already been upgraded. The Menwith Hill allocation is described in the files as for an undisclosed purpose, drawing attention because Menwith Hill is a long-standing US intelligence site. The spending outline names specific basing upgrades and storage work, and it is likely to intensify scrutiny of US basing arrangements at locations such as RAF Lakenheath and Menwith Hill and to shape UK debate over US military presence.

Prof Bill McGuire
@profbillmcguire.bsky.social

US nuclear weapons and secret bases on UK soil is an obscenity We don't need them and we don't want them It would be nice to think that the new PM will put a spanner in the works, but sadly I think not www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

4045d ago
Jeff3

Ffs why won't these fucking warmongering meglos just piss off.

Holly Brigstocke1

I get the argument that borrowing UK nukes is fine to maintain NATO's current nuclear posture but agree we need to de-Yankify. And *another* spy base to prop up their fascist empire? Nah, soz. Again, we need to de-Yankify.

Melissa Eco Zealot 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿1

UKG will never deliver a spanner to this … they’ll count the money claim they’ve increased GDP and hide the truth.

Quoting this
Snowy.3

Of course he won’t. We’re pretty much a vassal to the US.

The Guardian
@theguardian.com

Nuclear weapons storage in spotlight as US plans $4bn boost for its UK airbases

3045d ago
PhilT6023

Without a meaningful commitment to NATO, the presence of these US weapons on UK soil, just makes the UK a target!!

Life Is Amazing publisher3

Are we sure the US isn't ramping up its airbases in the UK... so it can attack the UK?

nearsighted.bsky.social3

These bases are the ultimate bargaining tool for the UK government. If the USA threatens tariffs then we tell them to remove the bases. Without its forward bases the USA is fucked. A strong PM is what we need not an appeaser.

Quoting this
La Reine des Metaphores5

One for @andyburnham.bsky.social to sort out. We live a mile and a half from one of these bases.

edolis 🇪🇺🇮🇹2

of course the US is going to use UK as a base to spy and threaten EU. As it already did with the centre for intercepting EU top level comms (Merkel case) in the past

Life Is Amazing publisher
@lifeisamazing.bsky.social

Are we sure the US isn't ramping up its airbases in the UK... so it can attack the UK?

345d ago
Lakenheath Alliance for Peace
@lakenheathalliance.bsky.social

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026... Although the article talks about building new nuclear storage facilities previous information suggests that some of the existing bunkers have already been upgraded: fas.org/publication/...

445d ago
kaybell27.bsky.social
@kaybell27.bsky.social

Like many others in the UK, I'm not looking for greater investment in US airbases here, I want them gone. bsky.app/profile/theg...

345d ago
Davey / Lexyn
@nerdlegend.bsky.social

@phillipspobrien.bsky.social I'm sure this going hit your radar at some point. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026... seems rather curious is a response to EU talk about nuclear umbrella or US understanding it alliance?

45d ago
John Paul iGhetti Jr
@dannybirchall.bsky.social

Love to live a Big Yellow for America's spare nukes. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

45d ago
Andy Scollick
@andyscollick.bsky.social

With the immaculate good timing of a follow-through, this news on the back of the #DIP shit underspending plan announcement is turning the UK into a pariah-laughing stock hybrid.

45d ago
Paulb
@paulb3964.bsky.social

Why would the US have investigative primacy for an offence that occurred on UK soil? Is whether the offender was on or off duty or on or off the airbase relevant. US Airbases in UK are surely UK territory. It *is* **RAF** Lakenheath & not USAF Lakenheath? www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

Screen shot of Guardian article with photo showing the name of the airbase as RAF Lakenheath.
46d ago
🌹ᴀʟᴀɴ ᴇ ʜɪʟʟ🌹
@alanehill.com

$4b "Boost" includes $163m for undisclosed reasons at Menwith Hill, and storage facilities for nuclear arsenal... www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

45d ago
simongood.bsky.social
@simongood.bsky.social

This is about data centres. Palantir. Trump. “The release also states that Ontario has expertise in clean, affordable nuclear energy, including large-scale reactors, small modular reactors and energy storage.” www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

45d ago
1 source
theguardian.comNuclear weapons storage in spotlight as US plans $4bn boost for its UK airbases

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