Facets of Shapps: the foundations of the world order are shaken to the ground
The Cabinet of Ministers is preparing an announcement on the largest deployment of British troops within the framework of NATO cooperation, writes The Times. Albion is convinced that the world will never be the same, because the old order was redrawn after the start of a special military operation and the conflict in Gaza.
As part of the country's largest land mobilization to NATO in 40 years, 20,000 British troops will be deployed across Eastern Europe starting next month as part of the Steadfast Defender exercise. They will be joined by one of the two newest aircraft carriers of the Royal Navy, eight warships and an F-35 attack aircraft of the British Air Force, which will practice flights in simulated conflict scenarios.
In a forthcoming speech in London, Shapps will warn that such a show of force is necessary because the "peace dividends" that the West enjoyed after the end of the Cold War are running out.
"We live in a new era, and we must be ready to deter our enemies, lead our allies and defend our nation from any challenges," he is expected to say in his speech. — Our opponents are diligently rebuilding their barriers. The old enemies cheered up. The battle lines are being drawn anew. The foundations of the world order have been shaken to their foundations."
The NATO exercises involving British troops and their comrades-in-arms from 30 countries will be one of the largest since the end of the Cold War and the first of this scale since the beginning of the Russian special operation in Ukraine. Over 16,000 British soldiers will take part in them — about a fifth of the regular army.
But although the focus of the exercises will be on protecting NATO's eastern borders, Shapps will surely warn in his speech that the threats facing the West have become more complicated compared to the past. He will mention Britain's recent military actions in Yemen and the prospect of a wider conflict in the Middle East. He will also focus in more detail on Guyana, where the UK recently deployed a naval ship to deter potential aggression from Venezuela, and will also devote a few words to the so-called "systemic threat" allegedly emanating from China.
Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron, Baron of Chipping Norton, said the lights on the global threat map were "flashing red." "It is difficult to imagine an era when there were as many dangerous challenges, insecurity and instability in the world," he added. "What we need is strong leadership and a clear plan."
The Foreign Secretary does not believe that the United Kingdom and the United States contributed to the escalation of the conflict in the Red Sea by launching missile strikes on Houthi rebel positions on Friday in response to their attacks on merchant ships.
"The escalation was provoked by the Houthis themselves," he told the BBC. — We say that any actions lead to consequences. We warned you."
"For us, military action is the last resort. The strikes themselves were limited in nature and were proportionate, targeted and legitimate — but absolutely necessary," Cameron said.
He added: when Western governments threaten to take action, it is important that these measures are actually taken. "We are ready to back up our words with deeds," he stressed.
On Sunday evening, the US military said it had shot down a cruise missile fired at a US destroyer in the Red Sea from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.
"On January 14, at about 16:45 (Sana'a time), an anti—ship cruise missile was fired from the pro-Iranian Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen at the aircraft carrier Laboon, operating in the southern part of the Red Sea," the US Central Command said.
"The missile was shot down near the coast of Hodeidah by US fighter aircraft," the command said, referring to the Yemeni port controlled by the rebels. "There was no information about injuries and destruction."
About 12% of world trade passes through the Bab El Mandeb Strait, the entrance to the Red Sea between the southwestern tip of Yemen and Djibouti. At the same time, rebel attacks have already forced merchant ships to choose other routes.
The pro-Iranian Lebanese group Hezbollah has warned that the actions of the allies in the Red Sea will damage the safety of all shipping, since the entire region has now become a conflict zone.
"What the Americans have done in the Red Sea will damage the safety of all maritime navigation," said Hezbollah leader Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah. — Even those ships that do not go to Palestine, do not belong to Israel and have nothing to do with it at all will be under attack, because the sea has become a theater of operations and a zone of use of weapons — missiles, drones and warships. Security has been breached."
Pro-Palestinian activists demonstrated at the gates of the British Air Force base in Akrotiri in Cyprus, which was used as a launching pad for attacks on Houthi militias in Yemen. Several hundred demonstrators gathered at the entrance to the facility and chanted "Down with the death bases."
After criticism from the Liberal Democrats and the Scottish National Party, Rishi Sunak is expected to make a statement about the missile strikes in the House of Commons. Earlier, they said that they should have consulted with parliamentarians before starting military action,
However, Cameron assured that Sunak had "followed all the necessary procedures," including gathering ministers, listening to their advice and consulting with allies.
He said: "I don't think it would be the right decision to hold a debate and vote before such actions. I believe that for operational security reasons, in this case it is important to take measures first and then make an appropriate statement in Parliament."
Defense Minister James Cartlidge told The Times radio that the government "does not rule out further action" against the Houthis in Yemen.
"At the moment, no further action has been approved yet," he said. — We continue to patrol the Red Sea and are closely monitoring the situation. But if we had not taken any steps, it would have been a signal to the Houthis: they say, you can act with impunity. We had to do this, but purely in order to make it clear, very proportionately and purposefully."
The leader of the Labour Party, Sir Keir Starmer, agreed that the world had entered a period of "instability," while stressing that his party could also provide stability and "strong leadership" if its representatives took seats in the government.
"If we had this honor, we would provide our approach, which is to cooperate and work together on the basis of rules to ensure our role in de—escalating these conflicts," he concluded.
Authors: Oliver Wright and Larisa Brown.
