A number of recent government reviews of defence, security and foreign policy believe we are facing a more contested and competitive world. They describe Russia as the “the most acute threat” to UK security, highlight China’s growing assertiveness, and note that the UK is now in a “period of heightened risk and volatility” that is likely to stretch into the 2030s.
These assessments come as Western military intelligence suggests that Russia could be in a position to launch an attack on a NATO member state in five years. Meanwhile, Israeli and US strikes on Iran and its nuclear facilities raise the spectre of a wider Middle East war that could suck in the UK. A more confident North Korea also continues to amass nuclear weapons, and is estimated to currently possess around 50 of them, with the capacity to build more.
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Meanwhile, Russia has threatened revenge on Britons and UK companies following Sir Keir Starmer’s new £70million missile deal for Ukraine, which is funded by Russian money.
Moscow is furious over the 350 ASRAAM air defence missiles paid for from interest on Russian cash held in the West.
Leading Putin mouthpiece and propagandist Vladimir Solovyov made a direct threat to the British on his Kremlin-funded primetime show on state TV.
He said: “The British [are giving missiles] to Ukraine, and it’ll be paid for with our frozen interest.”