Donald Trump has acknowledged that “some threats” prompted the United States to move bombers out of a UK air base, saying the aircraft did not leave RAF Fairford “by accident”.
The US president said the military planes had been shifted from the Gloucestershire base in response to the developing situation, after earlier attempts by Washington’s top diplomat to play down the significance of the redeployment.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had sought to dampen speculation that the move was driven by security fears, following suggestions it was connected to a suspected terror plot targeting RAF Fairford.
Mr Rubio would not link the jets’ departure to the recent alert near the base, even as questions mounted about the timing of the withdrawal.
But speaking to reporters as he left the White House today, Mr Trump was asked directly whether the bombers had been moved because of a threat. He replied: “Yeah, I think we can say that. They didn’t fly out by accident.
“No, but there were some threats and rather than tempting the enemy, we’ll capture the enemy and beat the enemy.
“But why should we keep them there? So we moved them around a little bit, not very far.”
He added: “We actually know the people who made the threat.”
US Vice President JD Vance said the decision to reposition the aircraft was made “out of an abundance of caution, trying to protect our guys”.
A US Air Force Rockwell B-1 Lancer Bomber arriving at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire (file image)
Speaking as he left Washington to travel to Alaska, Mr Vance added: “We do feel with some confidence that the Iranians are, you know, they’re trying to do what the Iranian state has done for 49 years, which is engaged in acts of terrorism against the United States (and others), so we are being extremely cautious, and that’s all I’d say about that.”
Mr Rubio, however, said he “wouldn’t directly tie” the shift in aircraft to the recent incident near RAF Fairford.
He said: “It’s not unusual to see movement of assets to different parts of the world based on exercises, redeployments, people changing out and new people coming in, new planes coming in and old planes going out.”
In the past week, six men have been arrested in connection with a suspected plot targeting RAF Fairford, which had been hosting US bombers involved in strikes against Iran.
The Pentagon confirmed on Sunday that the aircraft stationed at the base had been “redeployed to their home stations in the United States”, while emphasising the US Air Force still had the ability to strike “anywhere, any time”.
US officials told The New York Times that the bombers’ redeployment had been ordered after more specific details about threats to the base emerged over the weekend.
Today, Downing Street declined to comment on the withdrawal of US bombers, but insisted RAF Fairford was safe.
