UK to expand nuclear deterrent with F-35A fighter jets carrying weapons
Britain will buy a new squadron of fighter jets that can drop tactical nuclear weapons to match Russia and China in the biggest expansion of the deterrent since the end of the Cold War.
Sir Keir Starmer, the prime minister, warned that 'we can no longer take peace for granted' as he unveiled plans to buy 12 F-35As, which will carry American B-61 nuclear gravity bombs, capable of killing thousands.
The £80 million jets, a different variant of aircraft to the F-35Bs already flown from Britain's two aircraft carriers, will be deployed with nuclear bombs as part of a Nato mission in a moment of crisis. American nuclear weapons are expected to be stored on British soil for the first time since 2008 under the proposals.
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Reuters
9 minutes ago
- Reuters
Finland hails plan for allies to join NATO land forces on its soil
HELSINKI, June 25 (Reuters) - Finnish Defence Minister Antti Hakkanen hailed plans on Wednesday for six NATO member states including Britain and France to participate in land forces that are to be established in northern Finland. Finland, which has a longer border with Russia than any other NATO state, has strengthened the frontier in the two years since it joined the military alliance following a policy U-turn after Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. "I am very pleased that yesterday, in connection with the ministerial meeting, we were able to announce that Sweden, the United Kingdom, France, Norway, Denmark and Iceland are set to join FLF Finland," Hakkanen said on X, referring to what NATO calls Forward Land Forces. NATO leaders were meeting on Wednesday in The Hague. Helsinki and Stockholm agreed last year that Sweden would lead the establishment of a NATO land force in Finland and invited other allies to participate. The number of troops is yet to be defined. But the Finnish defence ministry has said that there is a plan for up to a brigade - about 5,000 soldiers - and a significant number of equipment to be brought in if the security situation worsens. The first NATO land forces will start to arrive this year and be placed above the Arctic circle in Rovaniemi and Sodankyla, it said. In addition to the foreign reinforcement force in the north, Finland will host a new NATO land force headquarters for officers in Mikkeli, southern Finland, an about two-hour drive from the Finnish-Russian border.
Sky News
12 minutes ago
- Sky News
Iran and NATO summit live: Trump to speak as NATO agrees spending pledge - after repeatedly rejecting reports about US Iran strikes
Rutte thinks Trump 'deserves all the praise' when asked by Sky about flattery NATO's chief has been under the spotlight over the past 24 hours for his language towards Donald Trump. The president shared a text he received from Mark Rutte yesterday, written with particularly gushing language. Today, he referred to him as "daddy" when it comes to resolving the Iran-Israel conflict - see our 13.22 post for more on that. Our security and defence editor Deborah Haynes asked at his news conference a short while ago if this flattery makes him look weak. "No, I don't think so, I think it's a bit of a question of taste, but I think he's a good friend," he said. He also credited Trump for driving an increased commitment among the alliance to up defence spending. Rutte added: "Doesn't he deserve some praise? "And when it comes to Iran, the fact that he took this decisive action, very targeted, to make sure that Iran would not be able to get its hands on a nuclear capability, I think he deserves all the praise." Watch the moment Haynes asks her question below: Kremlin: US and Iran disagree about damage caused by strikes Iran and the United States disagree about the amount of damage caused by American bombing raids on Iranian nuclear facilities. That's according to Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov. Speaking earlier, he said Moscow welcomes the ceasefire between Iran and Israel and hopes it lasts. But he stressed the fundamentally different explanations about the US strikes on Iran. "The one that carried out the strikes believes significant damage was inflicted," the Russian official said. "And the one who received these strikes believes that everything was prepared in advance and that these objects did not suffer excessive, significant damage," Ushakov told reporters. Watch below: Sky's Tom Clarke explains why some Iranian nuclear sites were spared and not attacked by Israeli or US bombers A spokesman for Iran's foreign ministry said earlier on Wednesday that the US strikes had caused significant damage to Tehran's nuclear facilities. Earlier in the day, the Kremlin had said it thought it was too early for anyone to have an accurate picture of the extent of damage caused. NATO's Article 5 explained - watch and read Deborah Haynes, Sky's defence and security editor, is at The Hague for today's NATO summit. Going into the gathering, Donald Trump cast doubt on his commitment to and interpretation of the alliance's Article 5 - the agreement that an attack on one member is an attack on all of them. But as she explained earlier, the alliance has since committed to the principle. Haynes explains why Article 5 is so important in the video below: You can also read more about the history of the commitment in our explainer from foreign news reporter Michael Drummond - just click below. Trump and Zelenskyy meet on sidelines of summit Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy have met on the sidelines of the NATO summit in The Hague. We'll bring you more details on this as we get them. Putin 'must stop dragging his heels', Starmer says - as he's asked whether Trump will get tough on Russia Asked about Donald Trump's comments about the situation in Ukraine being "totally out of control", Sir Keir Starmer calls on Vladimir Putin to "stop dragging his heels and get to the [negotiating] table". Replying to a question on whether Trump will get tougher on Russia, the prime minister says the mood of all NATO members was one of "positivity and resolve and purpose" in "the strength and unity of NATO". "But at the same time, recognising that, we need to now push harder on Ukraine," he adds. "Certainly my position has been for some considerable time now that Putin must stop dragging his heels and get to the table." He says all of the discussions at the NATO summit "have been urging that outcome". 'It's important I lead from the front,' PM says The prime minister is now asked about the massive pledges he is making ad questioned on whether he thinks he will be around to lead these plans into the next parliament. "Very confident," Starmer says. He says "it is really important I lead from the front" and "take the long term decisions". "We are living in a more volatile world and we have to rise to that challenge," he says. NATO position on Ukraine has not changed despite lack of condemnation of Russia, Starmer says NATO's position on Ukraine has not changed, Sir Keir Starmer has said, despite there being no condemnation of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in the alliance's joint communique today. Asked by Sky News's political editor Beth Rigby whether he was disappointed the statement had less of a focus on Ukraine than previous statements, the prime minister said his position had not changed. "In fact, over the last couple of days, I would say my discussions with leaders - there's been a real resolve," he said. He said "now is the time to push again to get Putin to the table for the unconditional ceasefire". He added: "President Zelenskyy has, for many weeks now, indicated his willingness to go for an unconditional ceasefire. "Now is the time for Putin, who has been dragging his heels, to come to the table." Starmer: Europe needs to make a fundamental shift in its posture Sir Keir Starmer is now addressing world leaders at The Hague and begins by addressing the ceasefire between Iran and Israel. He says now leaders need to make sure "the ceasefire holds" and get Iran back around the negotiating table with the US. The prime minister says he is in close contact with leaders in the Middle East and is working "to lower the temperature" in the region. He says focus should also not be lost on Ukraine or the rising threats to Europe-Atlantic security. He says Europe "needs to make a fundamental shift in its posture". Starmer says the UK will spend 5% of GDP on defence and security by 2035. Rutte celebrates 'significant commitment' in response to 'threats to our security' We're now hearing from NATO secretary general Mark Rutte, who is praising alliance members for agreeing to invest 5% of their GDP in defence and security spending. "This is a significant commitment in response to significant threats to our security," he says. This is "all to ensure we can effectively deter aggression and defend ourselves and each other should anyone make the mistake of attacking." He adds: "All allies are united in understanding that we need to step up to stay safe and they are acting on it. "President Trump has been clear, America is committed to NATO. He affirmed that again today in no uncertain terms. At the same time, he made clear America expects European allies to commit more, and that is what we see them doing." He says the allies are "in this together, committed to Article 5, and we are determined to stand firm". Ukraine 'has our continued support' The alliance "stands firmly with our neighbour and partner Ukraine," he adds, saying the alliance's resounding message to Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people "is that Ukraine has our continued support". He adds: "Our aim is to keep Ukraine in the fight today so that it can enjoy a lasting peace in the future." Intel leak 'unfair to US pilots', Trump says Donald Trump is speaking briefly to reporters with the Netherlands Prime Minister Dick Schoof. Addressing the leaked US intel, reported on by American media outlets, he says it is "unfair to the pilots" who "flew into a hornet's nest". The reports suggested that, contrary to Trump's claims, the US bombing raids he ordered on Iran's nuclear sites did not "obliterate" the Iranian facilities or the regime's ability to make a nuclear weapon. But Trump says the pilots did an "unbelievable job". "They should be admired and respected for what they did," he adds. He also repeats his claims that the sites were destroyed - opting for the word "demolished" this time. Trump is expected to speak again in a news conference shortly, after his brief remarks alongside Schoof.
Sky News
12 minutes ago
- Sky News
Former EE chief Allera joins team at CVC sports empire
The former boss of mobile phone network EE is taking on a powerful new role at the heart of a sports portfolio which includes interests in Six Nations Rugby, Spanish top-flight football and the women's global tennis tour. Sky News has learnt that Marc Allera, who stepped down as the boss of BT Group's consumer business earlier this year, has been appointed chairman of CVC SportsCo, a new entity aimed at providing more cohesive support to the buyout firm CVC Capital Partners' investments across the sector. The establishment of the new operating and investment group concept comes as CVC, the Amsterdam-listed private equity group, continues to diversify its sporting asset base. Having made billions of dollars from its ownership of Formula One motor racing - one of the most lucrative deals in the history of sport - CVC has bought stakes in leagues and other assets spanning cricket, football, rugby union, tennis and volleyball over the last two decades. Its investment in the media rights to La Liga - Spain's equivalent of the Premier League - is expected to generate a handsome return for the firm, although a comparable deal in France has faced significant challenges amid broadcasters' financial challenges in the country. CVC's backing of global sports properties is intended to position it to maximise their commercial potential through new media and sponsorship rights deals, as well as their expansion into new formats aimed at drawing wider audiences amid rapid shifts in media consumption. In rugby union, its acquisition of a stake in Premiership Rugby's commercial rights was hit by the pandemic and the subsequent financial pressures on clubs which saw a number of the league's teams forced into insolvency. Sky News revealed earlier this year that CVC had extended further support to Newcastle Falcons as part of a broader financial package aimed at paving the way for the team's sale. Red Bull is reported to be the acquirer of Newcastle Falcons, with a deal expected imminently. CVC, which bought into Premiership Rugby in 2019, owns a 27% stake in the league. Under its stewardship, broadcast audiences and attendances have turned a corner, with total TV audiences up 40% this year - partly as a result of an increase in the number of games being shown. It recently agreed a more lucrative TV rights deal for the league. Sponsorship revenues are also said to have nearly doubled since CVC's initial investment, with fan interest among the crucial 18-34 age demographic rising by 30% during the last year. Its SportsCo strategy will see Mr Allera, who also chaired BT Sport, working across the CVC sports portfolio, with other executives expected to be recruited to assist the effort in due course. One source likened the initiative to the approach employed by the luxury goods conglomerate LVMH. They added that there would be parallels with the sharing of best practice used at US basketball's NBA through its TeamBusinessOperations (TeamBO) unit to unlock collective opportunities and drive further long-term growth projects. CVC's sporting assets will continue to remain autonomous and independent of one another, the source said. One expected benefit of the SportsCo approach would be the sourcing of new investment opportunities in future years, with another likely to mean CVC remaining a stakeholder in its existing portfolio for a longer duration. The firm was recently outbid in an auction of major tennis tournaments by Ari Emanuel, the Endeavor founder whose company was also the seller of the assets. Global sports properties have become one of the hottest growth areas for private capital in recent years, with firms such as Ares Management, Silver Lake Partners and Bridgepoint all investing substantial sums in teams, leagues and other assets across the industry. Mr Allera already has connections to CVC as chairman of JagEx, the mobile gaming business it bought last year, and as a broader adviser to the private equity firm.
