Donald Trump lands in UK en route to Middle East amid regional tensions

Donald Trump has landed in the UK, with his aircraft making a strategic stop at a US airbase as he embarks on a trip to the Middle East amid rising tensions in Gaza and Iran.

Speculation was rife after flight restrictions were imposed around RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk, suggesting that the US president's Air Force One would touch down there late Monday or early Tuesday during his official Middle East tour.

For the safety and security of a visiting head of state, the Government has rolled out legislation to prohibit unauthorised flights in the vicinity from 11pm on Monday to 4am on Tuesday, as per a statutory instrument.

The same no-fly measures are set to be enforced from 5pm to 10pm on Friday, hinting at another potential refuelling stop for Air Force One at RAF Mildenhall.

Trump's quick pit stop in the UK, reports

How long was Trump in the UK?

Officials from the US have disclosed that it took less than 26 minutes to top up Trump's jet with fuel during a layover at this base on his way to Vietnam in February 2019, back in his first term.

There's buzz that Trump is eyeing a Boeing 747 plane offered by the during his Middle East sojourn, as reported by the Mirror.

This aircraft is earmarked for transformation into the new Air Force One. Trump dropped hints last month about a September rendezvous with the King in Britain.

Speaking to White House correspondents, he mentioned he had been "invited by the King and the country". Trump was feted with an opulent state visit to Britain, courtesy of the late Queen Elizabeth II, back in June 2019 during his initial term in office.

Trump is embarking on a Middle Eastern tour with stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, against the backdrop of significant regional challenges from Israel and Iran.

What's unfolding in Gaza?

Israel has broken a two-month ceasefire by intensifying military actions in the Gaza Strip. At the same time, Iran, which is at odds with both Saudi Arabia and Israel, is on the brink of achieving nuclear weapons capabilities.

Despite these pressing concerns, Trump appears singularly focused on three energy-rich nations, all of which are home to existing or planned Trump-branded properties. His aim is to leverage American economic power to do what he does best: negotiate business deals.

"This is his happy place," said Jon B Alterman of the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. "His hosts will be generous and hospitable. They'll be keen to make deals. They'll flatter him and not criticize him. And they'll treat his family members as past and future business partners."

Will Trump capitalise on Gulf diplomacy?

Trump is likely to engage in diplomatic discussions about Gaza and Iran. The Gulf states hosting him are just as eager to ease the tensions caused by these hotspots.

According to analysts Elizabeth Dent and Simon Henderson of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, "Trump can easily score a win by reassuring them of America's strategic commitment to the region, demonstrating consistent messaging and generally rising above the fray,".

However, by omitting Israel from his initial regional visit during his second term as president, Trump is fuelling concerns in Israel that its interests may not be at the top of his agenda. This perception was further exacerbated last week when Trump announced that the U.S. would halt its strikes on the Houthis, an Iran-backed rebel group in Yemen that agreed to suspend its attacks on American vessels in the Red Sea.