Senior American soldier accused of being a Russian spy arrested in UK just days after US moved its warplanes from RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk to Germany following Iranian threats

The United States seems to be caught in a pincer attack in the UK with Russian and Iranian threats looming large over its military assets. British police have arrested a senior US Army soldier on suspicion of assisting Russian intelligence, according to the BBC. This comes close on the heels of the US moving a dozen military aircraft from a British airbase after a reported threat from Iran.

What do we know about the US soldier arrested in the UK?

British counter-terrorism police arrested a 41-year-old senior US Army soldier near Gloucester on Tuesday, November 10, on suspicion of spying for Russia.

The BBC reported that the soldier was based at Imjin Barracks in Gloucestershire, which serves as the headquarters of Nato's Allied Rapid Reaction Corps. He was arrested under Sections 1 and 3 of the National Security Act 2023. These sections cover obtaining or disclosing protected information and assisting a foreign intelligence service.


FBI Director Kash Patel called it an “important arrest” and said the allegations were “of the utmost concern to the United States and our allies."

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Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans described the arrest as “significant” and said the investigation was ongoing. US Army Brig Gen Sean Stinchon also warned that “insider threats are real and persistent”.

The soldier has not been publicly named. He remains in custody at a London police station. British police said the case was not linked to any other ongoing investigations.

Why are US military aircraft leaving British airbases

The US Air Force moved more than 12 military aircraft from RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk, Britain, in the days after the US withdrew its bombers from RAF Fairford following a suspected Iran-linked security incident.

According to BBC Verify, 10 KC-135 refueling tankers left RAF Mildenhall on Monday. Two more departed on Tuesday. The aircraft flew to US bases in Germany, Italy and Spain, while one landed at Prestwick Airport in Scotland. Three Osprey aircraft also left the base.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the latest departures followed a further threat from Iran. However, the BBC said it had not independently verified that claim.

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A Ministry of Defence spokesperson told the BBC, "We do not routinely comment on the activity of other nations. Aircraft and other assets move regularly ​according to operational ​requirements.”

Downing Street said, "The protection of our bases, both in the UK and across the world, is a top priority."

A US Air Force spokesperson said its aircraft “rotate between installations and operating locations for a variety of reasons including training and real world requirements."

Former UK national security adviser Lord Ricketts told BBC Radio 4's Today programme, “Nobody knows at this stage what this information was. I suspect part of it is an abundance of caution.”