Rishi Sunak's Historic Achievement Amidst an Ambiguous Future

Rishi Sunak's decision to launch strikes against the Houthi rebels is seen as a significant moment during his time as prime minister. Although the government has the authority to do this without consulting others, in this case, they chose to brief the cabinet, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, Shadow Defence Secretary John Healey, and Speaker of the House of Commons Sir Lindsay Hoyle before taking action. Senior government officials conducted the briefings, which are more than just a courtesy. There is skepticism within and outside of parliament regarding the success of British military operations in recent decades. Some argue that parliament should have been involved in the decision-making process. Prime Minister Sunak stated that the Houthi attacks are unacceptable and that the UK will always stand up for freedom of navigation and trade. There will likely be a statement and debate in the Commons to address questions about the government's objectives, timeline, and costs. The Scottish National Party, the Liberal Democrats, and Plaid Cymru have already expressed their concerns about parliament being bypassed. This military response has been anticipated, as hinted by Defense Secretary Grant Shapps earlier in the week. The next steps, both diplomatically and in terms of geopolitics, military actions, and the economy, come with risks whether action is taken or not. With the recent crises in Ukraine and the Covid pandemic, the future holds even more uncertainty.