Andreas Krieg, an associate professor of security studies at King's College London, stated that the UK's deployment of fighter jets to assist Saudi Arabia in defending against Houthi attacks is "a fundamental protection of British national interests in the region." He noted that the UK's prosperity is closely tied to Saudi Arabia's stability, and this move not only protects critical national infrastructure and supply chains but also reflects the "trust issues" Gulf states have with Washington following the US withdrawal from the region. This creates an opportunity for European nations to intervene, with the UK leading this trend.