With fighter jets and ships… The British Army participates in America’s Independence celebrations

The British Army is taking part in the celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States of America.

The British government announced on Sunday that the Royal Air Force’s aerobatic team, the “Red Arrows,” along with a fleet of Royal Navy ships recently mocked by Donald Trump, will soon head to the United States to celebrate 250 years of American independence.

The “Red Arrows” team will conduct a month-long tour of the United States in June, while an unspecified number of Royal Navy ships will travel to the country in May.

The participation of the British military in these official events comes just weeks after a four-day official visit by King Charles III to the United States, which was considered successful and supportive of the “special relationship” between London and Washington, despite the significant strain the relationship has faced in recent months.

During the welcoming ceremony, Donald Trump told King Charles that the United States has “no closer friends than the British,” praising the “blood ties” between the two nations, without referring to the severe tensions that affected London–Washington relations following the war in Iran.

The British Ministry of Defence stated that some Royal Navy ships will make a temporary stop in New Orleans later this month.

The ships will then participate in a major naval parade titled the “International Naval Review 250,” organized by the U.S. Navy in the ports of New York and New Jersey in July to commemorate American independence in 1776.

The “Red Arrows” will perform a series of aerial displays during 13 events held between June 27 and July 26 across the states of New York, Washington, Wisconsin, Maine, Maryland, and Michigan to mark the anniversary.

On July 4, the American national holiday, the red jets will take part in a major international air display over New York, expected to be attended by tens of thousands of spectators, according to the British Ministry of Defence.

Air Vice-Marshal Mark Jackson said, “We are honored to have accepted the invitation from the U.S. military for the Red Arrows to participate in these special Fourth of July events.”

He added, “The Royal Air Force has a long and distinguished history of cooperation with the U.S. armed forces, whether in operations, training, or within NATO alongside other allies.”