Government Refusing to give basic details about the US military presence in Britain: Secrecy Over US Bases in Britain Deepens Am
Source: http://www.rcpbml.org.uk/wwie-26/ww26-02/ww26-02-02.htm
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:13
Government Refusing to give basic details about the US military presence in
Britain: Secrecy Over US Bases in Britain Deepens Amid Signs of New Middle East
Military Build-Up
Volume 56 Number 2, January 31,
2026
ARCHIVE
HOME
JBCENTRE
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Government Refusing to
give basic details about the US military presence in Britain
Secrecy
Over US Bases in Britain Deepens Amid Signs of New Middle East Military
Build-Up
The British government is refusing to disclose key information about US
military activity on British soil at the very moment Washington appears to be
preparing for a significant escalation in the Middle East. A
Declassified
UK
investigation dated January 20 reveals a tightening veil of secrecy
around American operations at RAF bases across England, raising questions about
Britain's role in any future conflict involving Iran.
For the first time in years, ministers have declined to reveal how many US
military personnel are stationed at each of the 13 American-operated or
American-shared bases in Britain. While the government acknowledges that
roughly 11,000 US personnel are present overall, it now refuses to break down
the numbers by location, citing "personnel security" concerns.
"In the interests of personnel security, I will not currently share
specific numbers of US [visiting forces] personnel at each individual
site," armed forces minister Al Carns said in response to a parliamentary
question.
This marks a reversal from 2024, when the Ministry of Defence (MoD) did
provide base-specific figures. The MoD also declined to clarify what
authorisation the US would require to launch military operations from British
territory. Successive governments have long insisted that Britain must approve
any such action, but ministers now avoid confirming whether this principle
still holds. Whether or not the government has ever refused is a moot point.
For instance, RAF Lakenheath is notorious for having played a key role in US
air operations against Libya for decades. Notable missions include the 1986
Operation El Dorado Canyon using F-111s, supporting the 2011 aggression against
Gaddafi with F-15Es, and conducting strikes against ISIS in 2015.
Recent aircraft tracking data have indicated a surge of US military flights
from RAF Lakenheath to Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, a key hub for
operations in the Middle East. Recent movements reportedly include at least 12
F-15 fighter jets, 4 KC-135 refuelling aircraft, and multiple C-17 transport
planes. RAF transport planes have made multiple trips in recent days to Tel
Aviv, Beersheba, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia. While the MoD has not
explained the purpose of these flights, their timing raises questions about
whether Britain is supporting or co-ordinating with US regional operations.
These deployments align with broader US preparations for potential action
against Iran or even Greenland, following escalating rhetoric from the US
President. The
Declassified UK
report paints a picture of a government
increasingly reluctant to reveal the extent of US military activity on British
soil, even as evidence mounts of a new US build-up in the Middle East and
Trump's threats of military action against Iran. The report underscores how
deeply embedded US military infrastructure is in Britain's military structure.
US forces must be removed from Britain and there must be no US military
action launched from British soil. This is a crucial demand of the anti-war
movement.
Sign the Stop the War Coalition Petition, Remove all US military from
Britain!
https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/remove-all-us-military-from-britain
Link to Full Issue of Workers'
Weekly
RCPB(ML) Home Page
Workers' Weekly Online
Archive
Britain: Secrecy Over US Bases in Britain Deepens Amid Signs of New Middle East
Military Build-Up
Volume 56 Number 2, January 31,
2026
ARCHIVE
HOME
JBCENTRE
SUBSCRIBE
Government Refusing to
give basic details about the US military presence in Britain
Secrecy
Over US Bases in Britain Deepens Amid Signs of New Middle East Military
Build-Up
The British government is refusing to disclose key information about US
military activity on British soil at the very moment Washington appears to be
preparing for a significant escalation in the Middle East. A
Declassified
UK
investigation dated January 20 reveals a tightening veil of secrecy
around American operations at RAF bases across England, raising questions about
Britain's role in any future conflict involving Iran.
For the first time in years, ministers have declined to reveal how many US
military personnel are stationed at each of the 13 American-operated or
American-shared bases in Britain. While the government acknowledges that
roughly 11,000 US personnel are present overall, it now refuses to break down
the numbers by location, citing "personnel security" concerns.
"In the interests of personnel security, I will not currently share
specific numbers of US [visiting forces] personnel at each individual
site," armed forces minister Al Carns said in response to a parliamentary
question.
This marks a reversal from 2024, when the Ministry of Defence (MoD) did
provide base-specific figures. The MoD also declined to clarify what
authorisation the US would require to launch military operations from British
territory. Successive governments have long insisted that Britain must approve
any such action, but ministers now avoid confirming whether this principle
still holds. Whether or not the government has ever refused is a moot point.
For instance, RAF Lakenheath is notorious for having played a key role in US
air operations against Libya for decades. Notable missions include the 1986
Operation El Dorado Canyon using F-111s, supporting the 2011 aggression against
Gaddafi with F-15Es, and conducting strikes against ISIS in 2015.
Recent aircraft tracking data have indicated a surge of US military flights
from RAF Lakenheath to Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, a key hub for
operations in the Middle East. Recent movements reportedly include at least 12
F-15 fighter jets, 4 KC-135 refuelling aircraft, and multiple C-17 transport
planes. RAF transport planes have made multiple trips in recent days to Tel
Aviv, Beersheba, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia. While the MoD has not
explained the purpose of these flights, their timing raises questions about
whether Britain is supporting or co-ordinating with US regional operations.
These deployments align with broader US preparations for potential action
against Iran or even Greenland, following escalating rhetoric from the US
President. The
Declassified UK
report paints a picture of a government
increasingly reluctant to reveal the extent of US military activity on British
soil, even as evidence mounts of a new US build-up in the Middle East and
Trump's threats of military action against Iran. The report underscores how
deeply embedded US military infrastructure is in Britain's military structure.
US forces must be removed from Britain and there must be no US military
action launched from British soil. This is a crucial demand of the anti-war
movement.
Sign the Stop the War Coalition Petition, Remove all US military from
Britain!
https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/remove-all-us-military-from-britain
Link to Full Issue of Workers'
Weekly
RCPB(ML) Home Page
Workers' Weekly Online
Archive