Renewed activism at RAF Lakenheath

Renewed activism at RAF Lakenheath highlights growing concerns over nuclear weapons in Britain, as peace groups blockaded the base and set up a camp calling for disarmament and accountability.

Blockade and demonstration: April’s stand for peace

On 26th April 2025, peace activists from across the UK gathered at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk for a nonviolent demonstration and blockade. Organised by the Lakenheath Alliance for Peace, the protest was a response to growing concerns over the presence — and possible deployment — of US nuclear weapons at the base. Dozens participated in the action, peacefully blocking access roads and holding banners reading 'No Nukes, No War' and 'Disarm for Peace'.

The demonstration followed the earlier establishment of a peace camp on 14th April, which has since become a hub for vigils, discussions, and solidarity. Campers, including Quakers, veterans, students, and long-time peace campaigners, have maintained a constant presence, holding silent worship, musical gatherings, and public teach-ins. Their aim is simple: to raise public awareness and to bear witness to the risks and injustice of nuclear weapons stationed on British soil.

Organising for peace: The role of Lakenheath Alliance

The Lakenheath Alliance for Peace, a network of grassroots activists and peace organisations, coordinated the April actions. Building on decades of anti-nuclear resistance, the Alliance has united faith groups, environmentalists, disarmament campaigners, and concerned local residents under a shared commitment to nonviolence and justice. Their work includes public education, lobbying, and direct action — always carried out in a spirit of peaceful resistance.

Through the peace camp and the blockade, the Alliance seeks to draw attention not only to the weapons themselves but also to the secrecy and democratic deficit surrounding their presence. The protesters believe that decisions with global consequences such as hosting nuclear warheads must not be made without public scrutiny or consent. Their message is clear: we do not consent to being a launchpad for nuclear war.

Why RAF Lakenheath is a focal point

RAF Lakenheath is a United States Air Force base located in England but operating under American command. Though formally an RAF station, it has long been used for forward-deploying US forces in Europe. Reports in recent years have raised alarm that nuclear-capable F-35 aircraft are being stationed there, and that new nuclear bombs — specifically the B61-12 — may be deployed to the site. The UK government has offered little transparency, further fuelling public concern.

Activists argue that the deployment of such weapons not only violates the spirit of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, but also increases the risk of the UK becoming a target in the event of conflict. Beyond legality, their concern is moral: the very existence of nuclear weapons, with their indiscriminate and catastrophic potential, is viewed as incompatible with any claim to peace, justice, or security.

A long tradition of resistance

The April demonstration is part of a wider and long-standing tradition of protest at Lakenheath. During the Cold War, thousands marched and camped outside the base to oppose the deployment of Cruise missiles and other US weaponry. In the early 1980s, CND and allied groups organised mass demonstrations, and local Quaker meetings regularly held vigils at the gates. The Greenham Common Women’s Peace Camp, although centred elsewhere, inspired similar gatherings at Lakenheath over the years.

In more recent decades, demonstrations have continued intermittently, responding to global events — from the Iraq War to NATO expansions and renewed arms races. The spirit of those who came before lives on in today’s protestors, many of whom cite the courage and perseverance of past peace movements as their inspiration. The current actions reflect a reawakening of that spirit, adapted to today’s threats.

Peace, not provocation

At the heart of the renewed activism is a deeply held belief that security cannot be built on fear and threat. The campaigners at Lakenheath argue that true peace comes not from deterrence, but from dialogue, cooperation, and disarmament. They call on the UK and US governments to reject the logic of mutually assured destruction and to take concrete steps toward global nuclear disarmament.

By blocking roads, pitching tents, and holding space in quiet witness, the demonstrators are not merely protesting — they are offering a different vision of security, rooted in community, transparency, and care for future generations. As one banner at the camp reads, 'Another world is possible. Let’s build it without bombs'.

Image(s) from CND