UK Column News — 21st October 2026

Mike Robinson (0:16)

Good afternoon, it's Wednesday the 21st of October, 2026, just after one o'clock. Welcome to UK Column News. I'm your host Mike Robinson. Joining me by video link today are Charles Malet, Vanessa Beeley, and Dr. Liz Evans, who will be joining us later in the programme. We'll be reporting on the UK government decision to mass medicate with folic acid on the latest report from the COVID inquiry and the continuing propaganda in the corporate media about conscription. But we'll begin today with the Mecca Pact, which has resulted in the UK's latest involvement with Saudi Arabia in its war with Yemen. Welcome to the programme, Vanessa.

Vanessa Beeley (0:53)

Hi, Mike, and good afternoon, everyone. And yes, another defensive war for the UK.

Make that make sense.

Anyway, let's start off with Netanyahu. We're of course in election fever in Israel. Netanyahu appearing on multiple TV channels. And this was a security conference that he spoke at fairly recently. But what is very interesting about this conference is the map that he displayed.

You can freeze frame it and obviously blow it up. It's not terribly clear on screen.

But the interesting, there's a few interesting things about this. So apparently this map was actually created regarding a Middle East alliance created five months ago. So back in May, 2026, created by Max Ayer and Marcus Schneider for a foundation that has been working with Israeli lawmakers since 1978 Well, people may notice that the Mecca pact is already on the map. So this was long before the Mecca alliance was announced that you see the Sunni alliance between Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan in dark green and Egypt. But you'll also note that to the west, the southwest of Sudan, you will see that that's colored in blue, which is considered to be friendly to both UAE and Israel. And in the lettering there, it mentions the rapid support forces, the genocidal ISIS aligned forces that are carrying out a genocide right now in Sudan. Also by the way, supported by the UK. We know there was a recent clandestine meeting in the UK where RSF representatives were allowed to speak. You'll also see that the Sunni alliance, which again is in dark green, the Israel UAE hexagon alliance, which is in light blue and the dark blue coloring for the UAE, which demonstrates that it's the closest country in the Persian Gulf to Israel, is effectively being orchestrated to fully surround Iran. Interesting Afghanistan isn't colored in yet. Although that's a Sunni majority country, there is also a strong Shia Islam presence there. And of course, Russia and Iran need Afghanistan for the North-South trade corridor, having been cut off in Armenia and Azerbaijan. So a lot to talk about. I could continue talking about the map itself. There's a lot of information within it, but let's move on to what's happening in the Mecca Pact itself. So first of all, the UAE has agreed with Saudi Arabia to re-enter the Yemen conflict amid Houthi or the resistance movement, Anshullah, gains. And what does this mean? Of course, the UAE has for a long time been in conflict, largely with Saudi Arabia in Yemen and over control of territory in Yemen, control of proxy forces. The UAE has been acting very much as an Israeli proxy in Southern Yemen. So interesting that Saudi feels desperate enough to bring the UAE back on line. Or is this being directed by Israel itself to maintain a sphere of influence inside Yemen? And as mentioned in the map itself, Egypt will come into the Sunni alliance according to recent reports. It's going to be voted on in parliament. Whether Egypt sends military to Saudi Arabia to defend Saudi Arabia, this is the narrative, of course, that is being pushed out by all of these nations joining the war, the colonialist war against Yemen. What's interesting, Egypt has basically the largest personnel army in the Middle East. It's not, it's second to Turkey and Israel from a firepower perspective, but its strength is anchored by massive ground forces, more than 3,600 tanks and a significant air force. So Egypt coming into this war is a major issue or a major point within that map that Netanyahu was showing. But finally, of course, let's have a look at West Streeting. I apologize in advance because this is his justification for Britain entering the war on behalf of Saudi Arabia against Yemen with RAF Typhoon jets.

Wes Streeting (5:27)

Today, I've informed Parliament that we will be deploying the RAF with Typhoons to mount defensive counter air activity against what is outrageous Houthi escalation that we've seen in recent weeks. In particular, people will bring to mind the bombing of civilian airports that led to hundreds of casualties. This is an intolerable escalation and the United Kingdom is the kind of country that when our allies call for help, we respond. People here at home are feeling in their pockets and at the pumps the price of regional instability and conflict in the Middle East. That's why the UK is responding to protect civilians and to try and bring an end to this conflict through diplomatic means ultimately. But in the meantime, we're here to protect civilians.