The United Kingdom played a pivotal role in enabling recent US airstrikes on Houthi rebel targets in Yemen, deploying Royal Air Force (RAF) Airbus A330 Voyager mid-air refuelling tankers to extend the operational range of American fighter jets. This support allowed the US to conduct sustained attacks on 30 Houthi locations in Yemen’s capital, Sana’a, and the northern stronghold of Saada, resulting in 51 casualties and 101 injuries. The strikes, authorized by President Donald Trump, were aimed at countering the Houthi rebels’ threat to commercial shipping in the Red Sea. The UK’s involvement underscores the continued reliance of the United States on European allies for strategic military operations, even as President Trump shifts focus towards the Indo-Pacific region.
The RAF’s Voyager tankers, typically based at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, provided essential refuelling support over the port of Jeddah, off Yemen’s coastline. This enabled a greater number of US F-35 and F-18 Super Hornet jets to participate in the mission, while also ensuring sufficient aircraft remained to defend the USS Harry S Truman aircraft carrier. The “buddy-buddy” refuelling system, where one jet refuels another mid-air, was crucial for extending the range of the strike force. An RAF source emphasized the importance of the UK’s involvement, stating, “This US operation would not have gone ahead without UK support. The RAF and US Air Force enjoy a particularly high level of interoperability. However, if President Trump decides to reduce collaboration with European allies, such operations could become more challenging.”
The UK’s assistance comes amid growing concerns over the future of US-European defence cooperation, as President Trump has signaled a potential reduction in joint US-NATO military exercises in Europe. This shift, part of a broader pivot towards addressing challenges in the Indo-Pacific, particularly from China, has raised questions about the sustainability of transatlantic partnerships. The recent operation in Yemen highlights the enduring strategic value of European support for US military objectives, even in non-NATO missions. However, it also underscores the potential challenges if the US continues to deprioritize its European alliances.
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