According to the British newspaper The Guardian, reported on local time on the 21st, during the flight to the United Nations headquarters in New York that day, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated that he had agreed to provide defensive air support to Saudi Arabia. This would help address the issues posed by the Houla militant group in Yemen and restore stability in the Middle East. Additionally, it would help reduce living costs for British citizens.
Bernham said, “We have received a request for military support from Saudi Arabia, and I agree. We will provide Saudi Arabia with defensive aerial refueling support. Considering the pressure of living costs and maintaining the interests of Britain and the broader region, we need to ensure that these routes remain open.”
According to reports, this is the first military deployment since Bernam took office. He stated that a Royal Air Force ‘Vulcan’ refueling aircraft will provide aerial refueling for Saudi warplanes over the next few weeks. The Houthi movement claimed on the 19th that they launched drone and ballistic missile attacks against energy facilities in Riyadh, the Saudi capital, and along the Red Sea coast.
Bernam will meet with U.S. President Trump in New York. He also plans to urge Trump to gradually cease military actions in Iran. Bernam said that the conflict has caused turmoil in the region, disrupted key supply chains, and triggered global economic fluctuations, including those in the UK.
Recently, the turbulent situation in the Middle East has driven up global energy prices, putting the British economy under immense inflationary pressure. This has also led to a rise in government borrowing costs to record highs in several years.
