A squadron of American spy planes has been spotted at a UK airbase as global tensions around Venezuela, Russia and Greenland increase.
The 99th Reconnaissance Squadron, equipped with critical intelligence gathering machinery, were seen at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire today.
The squadron’s mission is to ‘deploy and employ warrior Airmen and execute effective and sustained U-2 operations globally in support of National Objectives.’
Fairford has long hosted United States Air Force personnel, but onlookers say the last few days have seen a drastic surge in activity.
Earlier today, F-35 jets were spotted taking off from RAF Mildenhall as US planes amass in the UK.
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Images taken at Fairford on Monday showed several US Air Force C-17 aircraft – typically used for heavy transport of equipment and personnel.
No 10 said it would not comment on speculation or the uses of British military bases by third parties.
The large gathering of planes comes amid rumours of a US takeover of Greenland and as American forces intercepted an oil tanker that historically carried Venezuelan crude oil.
The US European Command, headquartered in Germany, confirmed today the seizure of the Marinera for ‘violations of US sanctions’.
It said in a statement on X: ‘The vessel was seized in the North Atlantic pursuant to a warrant issued by a US federal court after being tracked by USCGC Munro.’
The US seized another shadow fleet tanker, Sophia, in the Caribbean Sea in the early hours of this morning, with authorities saying that it was carrying oil from Venezuela.
Trump is also reportedly considering using the military to take over Greenland.
Washington has said that Trump has been discussing ‘a range of options’ to acquire the island home to 56,000 people.
Trump has repeatedly insisted that Greenland, a semiautonomous Danish territory, rightfully belongs to the US.
But Denmark has stressed that the sparsely populated island is not for sale.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned it could spell the end of Nato – a mutual-defence alliance whose members include the UK, the US and European powers – and upend the Russia-Ukraine war.
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