October 05, 2026
Why Has America Suddenly Pulled Its Bombers Out of Britain?
The sudden withdrawal of American heavy bombers from RAF Fairford back to the United States follows a major incident near the Gloucestershire airbase. Five men were arrested near the base, with the UK government saying it showed "strong indications" of state-sponsored involvement from Tehran. So why has the US pulled its bombers from the UK? Has the abrupt departure handed Tehran a tactical and propaganda victory? And what does the saga say about the UK’s special relationship with the US? On this episode of the Fourcast, Krishnan Guru-Murthy is joined by Jim Townsend, an adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security.
Watch the full interview on Channel 4 News.
More from CNAS
-
Ukraine's Winter Forecast: Economy and Politics
A fast-approaching winter looms over Ukraine. Russia has intensified a concerted campaign against the infrastructure that keeps Ukraine’s economy running, striking railways, w...
By Andrea Kendall-Taylor & Jim Townsend
-
The Pentagon’s Plan for a Smaller Group of NATO Allies
Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby has held talks with Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Finland, describing the participants as allies that are increasin...
By Jim Townsend
-
Oct 02, ’26 Washington Roundtable
Jim Townsend, an adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, joins the Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable to discuss the Trump administr...
By Jim Townsend
-
The Russia Stability Tracker
In February 2023—one year into Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war on Ukraine—the Center for a New American Security convened a group of leading U.S. experts on Putin’s Rus...
By Andrea Kendall-Taylor