RAF Lossiemouth's role in Nato air defence could make it a target for Russia's nuclear weapons

The Moray base is home to RAF Typhoon jets held on Quick Reaction Alert, as well as the UK's Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft used to track submarines in the North Atlantic.

Professor David Blagden from Exeter University argues that Moscow could view that concentration of air power at RAF Lossiemouth as a problem to be removed.

He warns that Russia could believe Britain lacks lower-yield nuclear options between doing nothing and launching a full-scale response.

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The warning puts Lossiemouth at the centre of a wider debate over whether Britain could stop Russia from thinking it has room to use a tactical nuclear weapon first.