In recent months, the United States has begun relocating key military assets from overseas bases that have long served as the front line of its global power projection. The move comes amid growing concerns that Iranian forces could threaten U.S. installations far from the Middle East, including in the United Kingdom.
In October, the U.S. withdrew all 12 of its B‑1 Lancer bombers from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, citing safety fears. The decision followed a series of arrests by British security forces and accusations that Iran was behind a plot to target the base—a claim Tehran has denied. Earlier this month, the U.S. also pulled a dozen aircraft from RAF Mildenhall, another key British airfield.
These actions are part of a broader strategy to move forces from Gulf bases that suffered heavy damage during the Iran‑Iraq war. In July, reports indicated that many U.S. assets were being shifted to Jordan, with a proposal on the table to relocate them to Israel as well.
For decades, bases like Fairford and Mildenhall have been critical to the U.S. ability to project power and support allies in Europe and the Gulf. They have also served as deterrents against regional threats. However, Iran’s demonstrated capability to strike U.S. facilities in the Middle East—and now the potential to reach as far as the UK—has turned these strategic assets into potential liabilities.
Simon Mabon, a professor of international politics at Lancaster University, told Al Jazeera that “the US security umbrella is becoming a double‑edged sword.” He added that the security of U.S. bases is now being questioned, which could alter Washington’s calculation of their strategic benefits and prompt European and Gulf states to reconsider their hosting arrangements.
Former President Barack Obama once described the U.S. commitment to Gulf security as “ironclad,” and Britain has long highlighted its “special relationship” with the United States. Yet recent security incidents linked to the war on Iran are challenging that narrative and raising questions about whose interests these commitments ultimately serve.
Source: Al Jazeera
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