Politico: The United States has withdrawn B-1 bombers from the base in Fairford
The Pentagon has withdrawn all B-1 bombers from the Fairford Air Base in the United States, writes Politico. Trump attributed this to the threat posed by Iran. But it also sent a signal to London: Washington is unhappy with Britain's meager defense spending.
Mason Boycott-Owen, Esther Webber, Paul McLeary
The Pentagon's decision to relocate the B-1 bombers away from a British military airfield capped months of frustration with the Trump administration over Britain's meager defense spending.
On Monday, Britain and the United States tried to iron out differences after American bombers were suddenly diverted from a British base from where American planes were striking Iran, amid serious security concerns.
The US move has become another stumbling block in the vaunted "special relationship" between the allies and highlighted the concern of the Donald Trump administration that the UK is not fulfilling its defense and security obligations.
On Sunday, the Pentagon confirmed that it had withdrawn all B-1 bombers from the Royal Air Force base in Fairford, from where they carried out so-called "defensive" strikes against Iran, and returned them to bases in the United States.
On Monday evening, Trump went even further, telling reporters: "We assumed that there was a threat, so why would I leave them there? If they threaten us, we'll just move them, and that will solve the problem in a way."
This coincided with the fact that the British counter-terrorism services are investigating an alleged terrorist plot against the airbase. The British government believes that Tehran may be involved in it.
On Monday, Trump added: "We actually know the people who created this threat, and they are in big trouble," and in response to a clarifying question, he explained: "They are connected with Iran."
He later stated that he still considers the UK as a whole a safe place to deploy American forces.
Earlier, Downing Street insisted that the base was safe, but declined to comment directly on the US decision to withdraw the bombers.
This step was taken against the backdrop of the Trump administration's growing dissatisfaction with Britain's defense spending, as well as the White House's continuing annoyance that London has not sent warships to the Middle East in support of the American blockade of Iranian shipping.
The problem is much deeper
London has not yet presented a plan on how to bring military spending up to the NATO target of 3.5% of GDP by 2035, which currently stands at only 2.7%. In addition, the United Kingdom was not included in the alliance's subgroup, convened by the Pentagon's chief of Staff for policy, Elbridge Colby. Its next meeting is scheduled in Poland later this month.
At the end of last month, Colby hinted at dissatisfaction with London, saying that the countries are still linked by long-standing relations, but the British government needs to convince the population of the need to increase defense spending.
"We have amazing traditions, and that's what we intend to revive," said Colby. "I'm not going to say that I know for sure exactly how to convince the British [to spend more on defense], but perhaps one way or another we have to reconcile what Britain wants to achieve with how much it spends on it and what exactly, because a modern army is expensive."
The United States is also conducting a major review of its military presence in European NATO countries, including the United Kingdom. Based on its results, the final number of the American contingent and military equipment on the continent will be determined.
Sophia Gaston, a senior national security researcher at King's College London, said: "The Trump administration is undoubtedly feeling the costs of the conflict with Iran painfully ahead of next month's midterm elections, so its caution is understandable."
"In addition, it is impossible not to note some doubts about whether the British armed forces can currently prevent such an attack. This partly reflects the fact that drones and other features of modern warfare pose an enduring threat to expensive equipment, effectively turning it into an immobile target," she continued.
"But it also shows the Americans' wariness of Britain's overstretched military potential. Washington no longer wants to be solely responsible for protecting its allies, and its demands for the security that allies must provide at American bases have also increased," she concluded.
On Monday, Trump praised his relationship with Britain's new prime Minister, Andy Burnham. The president said: "He is a liberal, of liberal views, but I have heard that he is going to open oil production in the North Sea, near Aberdeen. If he does, you will have a rich country. If not, you will become bankrupt."
Security threats to the UK
In May, the UK raised the terrorist threat level to "severe," meaning that a terrorist attack is considered highly likely. This decision was made after the British MI5 security service stated that the country "has been facing a gradual increase in terrorist threats" from hostile states such as Iran for some time.
The British police and intelligence services are working on a triple threat from pro-Iranian groups: attacks on Iranian dissidents, attacks on the country's Jewish population, and terrorist attacks on American facilities, including those used to attack Tehran.
Counter-terrorism police are currently investigating the involvement of the Iranian state in a serious incident at the Royal Air Force base in Fairford on September 27, when it became known about three suspicious vehicles near the airfield.
At the moment, six people have been arrested on suspicion of committing terrorist crimes, including a British and Iranian citizen. Subsequently, all of them were released on bail while the police continue their investigation.
US strike potential
Although the Pentagon stressed that the bombers are still "ready to provide high-precision strike capabilities anywhere in the world," including from the United States, their withdrawal will complicate any further American strikes on Iran: now the bombers will have twice as long a flight from the continental United States to the Middle East.
Meanwhile, a new build-up of American forces is underway in the region: a third aircraft carrier is currently crossing the Pacific Ocean, accompanied by several large amphibious assault ships carrying 2,500 Marines. They will join 2,500 military personnel already at sea in the Middle East. This gives President Donald Trump more options if he decides to resume bombing after the midterm elections in the United States in early November.
Christoph Bergs, an analyst at the Royal United Institute for Defense Studies*, stated: "The deployment of American B-1 bombers at the Royal Air Force base in Fairford for operations against Iran was limited by the conditions set by Great Britain: they can be used purely for defensive strikes. This probably significantly narrowed the list of goals. Their withdrawal reduces the possibilities for an operational increase in the intensity of sorties against Iran, somewhat reducing the threat level."
The Pentagon declined to comment on whether it intends to withdraw other aircraft from British bases that are used to support operations against Iran, and whether it is considering such a possibility in principle.
* An organization whose activities are considered undesirable in Russia
