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09 May 24. It’s the Output count!
Shift focus to ends away from ways and means.
When it comes to it we are concerned about outputs, ends rather than ways or means. Will I be well? Can I and my family get an education? Am I safe in my home? Perhaps less frequently; will there be a war that has a fundamental effect on my life and the lives of others?
Perhaps we have a preference for the how the outputs are delivered, the ways, and we have an interest in the resources required to produce them, the means, nevertheless as long as the ways and means are legal and ethical the ends are the priority.
So why is public discourse dominated by frenzied debate on ways and means, with little or not attention paid to ends? Defence is a case study for this phenomenon. The relentless focus on the amount of money spent on defence is an angels on a pinhead discussion. The presentation is that spending 2%, 2.5%, 3% of GDP or any other figure on defence translates to effective military capability. The U.K. proudly states that it has met the NATO target of 2% of GDP to be spent on defence and takes the moral high ground with others that fall short of that arbitrary target. Whilst an input target may have been met, and it is questionable if it has or not, it is clear that UK military capability, the output, falls well short. Billions of pounds are spent on defence annually and yet the U.K. has a small to medium sized, top heavy military that is packed with exquisite technology in the air and marine domains (when it works) and fails to meet its NATO commitment of providing an armoured Division or any land force that would be capable of extended engagement with a ‘peer’ adversary.
The discourse has shifted to ways and means. It is time to ask if the outputs are acceptable; if the ways and means are delivering the ends. Once we are honest about outputs, we can ask if the ways and means need to be adjusted to deliver the ends. (Source: Paul Hough/Alterius Rei)
09 May 24. Defence Secretary praises Scottish contribution to shipbuilding & defence. Defence Secretary has met with apprentices, engineers and key industry leaders during a visit to key shipyards. Scotland plays a crucial role in the Navy’s shipbuilding pipeline and the UK’s security.
- Defence Secretary meets with apprentices, engineers and key industry leaders.
- New warship production well underway in Scotland
- More than 12,000 Scottish jobs are supported through defence spend with UK industry.
- Paul Sheerin announced as Chair of the shipbuilding Skills Delivery Group.
Scotland is playing a crucial role in the Navy’s shipbuilding pipeline and the UK’s security, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps has said today on a visit to key shipyards.
Visiting Govan, where BAE Systems are building Type 26 frigates, and HMNB Clyde, home of the Royal Navy’s submarine fleet, the Defence Secretary met with key industry leaders, staff and apprentices, observing the significant progress on the major warship production programme.
Scotland is the beating heart of military shipbuilding, with eight Type 26 ships being built in Glasgow and five Type 31 frigates being built by Babcock International in Rosyth. This supports and is supported by the local maritime infrastructure, supply chains, and extensive skills and training resources. On a tour at BAE Systems in Govan, the Defence Secretary saw the Type 26 frigates in build, and toured HMS Cardiff.
More than 12,000 jobs in Scotland are directly supported by Defence, with more than £2bn spent annually with UK industry in Scotland. Over 5,000 jobs will be created or sustained across the build of Type 26 and Type 31 programmes alone, and just under 1,000 apprentices will be trained to provide the skill required to build and maintain our Royal Navy fleet.
Defence Secretary, Grant Shapps, said: “As the home of the nuclear deterrent – which keeps us all safe around the clock – nobody can question that Scotland is absolutely central to the UK’s security. As Shipbuilding Tsar, it is fantastic to see the positive impact that the Scottish shipbuilding industry plays. A sector once restricted by periods of ‘boom and bust’ is now witnessing a resurgence, with Scottish shipyards buzzing with activity and its workforce expanding. Brand new warships will operate around the world, looking after our nation’s interests, for decades to come, and they will have been built by highly skilled shipbuilders right here in Glasgow. We continue to back the UK defence industry in Scotland with billions of pounds every year, supporting thousands of jobs and apprenticeships.”
At HMNB Clyde, the home of the UK’s nuclear deterrent submarines, the Defence Secretary visited an attack submarine. HMNB Clyde is currently one of the largest employers in Scotland and is in the process of increasing its on-site staff from 6,800 to over 8,000, whilst the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) has committed to spending more than £3 bn on sites in Scotland, including £1.6bn on the Clyde Infrastructure Programme, to establish it as the home of UK’s submarine fleet.”
The Defence Secretary, in his role as Shipbuilding Tsar, is responsible for overseeing all of the government’s interests in UK shipbuilding. The Government’s commitment to UK Shipbuilding through the Refreshed National Shipbuilding Strategy has allowed industry to invest for the future, with BAE Systems’ £12m Applied Shipbuilding Skills Academy and the construction of a modern shipbuilding hall in Govan currently underway.
The Government has today issued its response to the UK Shipbuilding Skills Taskforce report. In response to recommendations within, the report the National Shipbuilding Office has launched the shipbuilding Skills Delivery Group. This group will drive the delivery of the Taskforce recommendations and will be a champion for skills within the UK Shipbuilding Enterprise. Grant Shapps also announced the Chair of the Group will be Paul Sheerin, and the two met at Govan shipyard.
Paul Sheerin, Chair of Skills Delivery Group said: “It is critical for the UK shipbuilding enterprise that the skills gap is addressed, and to ensure that this can happen there needs to be a unified approach across different skills systems, across different parts of the enterprise and across government and the devolved administrations.
I am extremely excited to chair the SDG, working alongside a highly knowledgeable and experienced membership comprised of representatives from across the whole enterprise. With the continued support of the Shipbuilding Tsar and the NSO, I look forward to working with the Group to deliver a positive impact on skills within this vital sector to the UK.
Scottish Secretary, Alister Jack said: “Scottish-based critical defence assets play a crucial role in the security of the UK. As well as helping to keep us all safe, defence also delivers thousands of high-skilled jobs and bns of pounds investment in Scotland, driving prosperity and boosting the Scottish economy. I’m proud that Scottish skills, expertise and innovation make such an enormous contribution to the UK’s defence industry.” (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
09 May 24. The UK prime minister’s pledge to increase defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP in response to the war in Ukraine and other threats is welcome news for companies like BAE Systems and the legion of other organisations that make up Europe’s largest defence sector. Even before Sunak’s intervention, their order books were bulging as governments around the world stepped up spending. Shares in BAE Systems, Britain’s leading contractor, have surged 40 per cent over the past 12 months — far ahead of the broader UK index. Hopes of an advance on one key front, however, look likely to be frustrated. The EU is similarly rushing to bolster defence budgets and industrial resilience, but Brexit means Britain’s industry could be excluded. Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission president, told an industry conference this year that as part of the bloc’s first ever defence industrial strategy it was important to “spend more, spend better, spend European”. The initiative is subject to suggestions from member states. It remains to be seen exactly how the rules will work in practice, but it has already set alarm bells ringing among UK executives. “It’s a good thing that the commission wants to talk about the defence industry, but there is concern about the setting of broad political targets as part of the new strategy,” said one. The strategy has set a target to procure at least 50 per cent of its budget from EU-based defence suppliers by 2030 and 60 per cent by 2035. The ambition is to boost the bloc’s resilience in part by reversing the trend of member states buying foreign-made equipment. Although US weapons are the main target here, it will also hit UK industry. British companies will only be able to participate on the same third-country basis as other non-EU members. In the four years since Britain’s departure from the EU, the UK industry has in effect already been shut out of certain activities such as the nearly €8bn European Defence Fund — third-country companies can only benefit from funding if they meet certain conditions and operate on EU soil. But the worry is that the strategy’s political intent will be more far-reaching and exclude UK companies from new programmes. “Ukraine has demonstrated that industrial capacity is a considerable part of a nation’s national security,” said Kevin Craven, chief executive of ADS, the UK industry trade group. “The point is that there is an opportunity cost for the UK defence industry in not being able to participate in the future EU defence industrial strategy.” One particular concern is that existing industrial partnerships may be stifled. BAE generates more than 40 per cent of its annual sales from the US but the company remains a large player in Europe, in part through collaborative programmes. It is one of the main shareholders in MBDA, the European missile champion. Many smaller UK companies in the supply chain are also involved. Brussels insiders say that while there is a lot of sympathy for UK industry, the rules for companies from third countries are clear. They also point out that it was at the UK’s insistence that the EU-UK defence and security relationship was excluded from the 2020 Brexit negotiations. Long-standing defence observers, however, argue that there is also a cost to the bloc if it unilaterally excludes UK industrial involvement. Before Brexit, the UK accounted for about 20 per cent of all military capabilities within the EU, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies. Several European companies, including Airbus and Leonardo, also have large operations in the UK. There is some uncertainty how these might be treated under the new EU defence strategy. One senior UK industry executive says: “This is about the health of the European defence industrial base. What we want to avoid is mutually assured disruption.” Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has proven to be a watershed moment for European security and for Europe’s defence industry. The war has led to close co-operation between the EU and the UK in their efforts to aid Ukraine’s armed forces. There is some optimism that closer industrial co-operation may yet be possible if the two sides can agree on a defence and security pact. If policymakers in both camps can accept that defence is more about the geography of Europe than political demarcations, the door may not remain shut to UK industry forever. (Source: FT.com)
08 May 24. EIB Board of Directors steps up support for Europe’s security and defence industry and approves €4.5bn in other financing.
- Board approves updating dual-use projects definition and backing security and defence SMEs and innovative startups through EIB credit lines
- Board also approves €4.5bn for innovation, business, transport and agriculture investment
The Board of Directors of the European Investment Bank (EIB) today approved an updated definition of dual-use goods and infrastructure eligible for EIB Group financing and agreed to facilitate financing for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the security and defence industry, by opening up dedicated intermediated financing.
The Board also approved €4.5 bn in new financing for projects, including in the strategic priority areas of climate action, technological innovation and agriculture.
“We are stepping up our support for Europe’s security and defence industry, strengthening investment to keep Europe and its citizens safe, while safeguarding the EIB Group’s financing capacity,” EIB President Nadia Calviño said.
Revamped rules for security and defence financing
Boosting EIB Group support to safeguard Europe’s peace and security is one of the top strategic priorities, outlined by President Calviño to EU Finance Ministers in February. Following intensive consultations with the Bank’s shareholders, financial markets and key stakeholders, and the European Council’s mandate to further improve access to finance for European security and defence firms, President Calviño unveiled an immediate Security and Defence Industry Action Plan at the last EU Finance Ministers meeting (ECOFIN), where the initiative received broad support.
Today’s Board of Directors meeting formally adopted the Action Plan. Going forward, the EIB will waive a previous requirement that dual-use projects eligible for financing in the area of security and defence derive more than 50% of their expected revenues from civilian use. Projects and infrastructure used by the military or police that also serve civilian needs will now be eligible for EIB Group financing. There will no longer be a minimum threshold for expected revenues from civilian applications or share of civilian users.
The EIB Group will also update its rules for security and defence SME financing. This will open dedicated credit lines managed by banks in EU Member States and other intermediaries for dual-use projects by smaller companies and innovative startups. EU companies whose activity is partly in defence will be eligible for financing using EIB-backed intermediated credit lines. No further changes were made to the EIB Group’s eligibility, excluded activities and excluded sectors list.
The EIB Group has created a dedicated Security and Defence Office, providing a one-stop shop for security and defence investment, operational since 1 May 2024. It offers streamlined financial support and expert assistance aimed at strengthening Europe’s security and defence capabilities.
The changes are expected to speed up investment and improve access to EIB Group financing for the European security and defence sector, deploying €6 bn in funding available under the Strategic European Security Initiative (SESI), and the European Investment Fund’s (EIF) Defence Equity Facility, and further boosting the EIB Group’s already considerable support to the European security and defence industry.
€4.5 bn for innovation, business, transport and agriculture investment
The Board today also approved €4.5bn of new financing for renewable energy, agriculture, sustainable transport and business investment.
“The financing will have an impact in creating skilled jobs, increasing renewable energy generation and enhancing sustainable transport infrastructure to improve lives and opportunities and to contribute to a greener and more resilient future for all,” said EIB President Nadia Calviño.
The Board approved €1bn of new business financing. Sustainability-focused corporate research and innovation across Europe will be supported by a dedicated pan-European venture debt initiative and new cooperation with local financing partners to scale up business financing in Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, Armenia and Azerbaijan, while access to finance to enable companies to expand and create jobs will be enhanced by new business financing programmes with banking partners in Spain and the Czech Republic. The first financing programme for agribusiness and agricultural cooperatives in Senegal, under the EIB’s pan-African agriculture financing initiative, and support for agricultural and rural development investment in Spain were also approved.
The EIB backed €1.1 bn of investment in sustainable transport, including co-financing construction of a new 149 kilometre suburban railway network with 58 stations in Bangalore, the third largest city in India, that will reduce congestion, climate emissions and pollution. Financing for new and upgraded regional passenger trains in southwestern France and increased support for an extension of the Stockholm metro were also approved.
New clean-energy investment totalling €1.2bn was agreed by the Board. New equity financing for investment in utility scale renewables in Asia, Latin America and Europe was approved, alongside backing small-scale wind and solar schemes in France and Germany and upgrading electricity distribution in Greece and Italy.
Background information
The European Investment Bank (ElB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. It finances sound investments that contribute to EU policy objectives. EIB projects bolster competitiveness, drive innovation, promote sustainable development, enhance social and territorial cohesion, and support a just and swift transition to climate neutrality.
The EIB Group, which also includes the European Investment Fund (EIF), signed a total of €88bn in new financing for over 900 projects in 2023. These commitments are expected to mobilise around €320 bn in investment, supporting 400,000 companies and 5.4m jobs.
All projects financed by the EIB Group are in line with the Paris Climate Accord. The EIB Group does not fund investments in fossil-fuels. We are on track to deliver on our commitment to support €1trn in climate and environmental sustainability investment in the decade to 2030 as pledged in our Climate Bank Roadmap. Over half of the EIB Group’s annual financing supports projects directly contributing to climate change mitigation, adaptation, and a healthier environment.
Approximately half of the EIB’s financing within the EU is directed towards cohesion regions, where per capita income is lower. This underscores the Bank’s commitment to fostering inclusive growth and the convergence of living standards.
The EIB Group has been actively supporting investment that reinforces Europe’s defence and security industry since 2017. Beneficiaries of EIB Group financing range from household names in the defence sector to innovative startups.
Under its Strategic European Security Initiative (SESI), expanded immediately after Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, there still is €6bn in funding available. In addition, the EIF launched a €175m Defence Equity Facility in January 2024, which can support SME and start-ups in the field, such as those in the area cybersecurity.
Eligible projects under SESI will include military mobility, space, cybersecurity, green security, critical infrastructure, border protection, and other dual-use investments, such as drones. More details can be found on the dedicated page of the EIB’s website.
08 May 24. The British government said on Wednesday that it was expelling Russia’s defence attaché for spying, removing diplomatic status from properties in the UK that it believes Moscow has used to gather intelligence, and limiting the length of visas granted to Russian diplomats. Home secretary James Cleverly told parliament that the measures came in response to what he called Moscow’s “malign activity”. He said Britain was already “an extremely challenging operating environment for Russian intelligence services” but the measures would “serve to strengthen our resilience to the Russian threat”. He called the Russian defence attaché “an undeclared military intelligence officer”. Russia would give an “appropriate response” to the attaché’s expulsion, foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova told RIA Novosti. Britain has introduced several waves of sanctions on Russian companies and individuals since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and Cleverly said the UK government would not falter in its support of Kyiv. As part of the latest measures, the UK said it would remove diplomatic status from several Russian properties, including Seacox Heath in Hawkhurst, Sussex, and the Russian embassy’s trade and defence section in Highgate, north London. “Since the illegal invasion of Ukraine, Russia’s attempts to undermine UK and European security have become increasingly brazen,” said foreign secretary Lord David Cameron.
“These measures are an unequivocal message to the Russian state — their actions will not go unanswered.” The UK is often at the forefront when it comes to combating Russian espionage in Europe. In 2018, more than 20 countries joined the UK in expelling more than 100 Russian diplomats following the attempted assassination on British soil of Russian double agent Sergei Skripal. Of that total, London expelled 23 Russian spies who had been posing as diplomats. Soon after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, European capitals ejected about 600 Russian diplomats, about 400 of whom were believed to be spies. But European intelligence agencies have recently warned their governments that Russia has been rebuilding its European espionage network, often using proxies, and has been plotting and carrying out violent acts of sabotage across the continent as part of Moscow’s commitment to permanent conflict with the west. Last week, Nato members said they were “deeply concerned” about recent attacks that they attributed to Russia and which had affected the Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and the UK. In April, two British nationals were charged with conducting hostile activity in the UK to benefit Russian intelligence after a suspected arson attack on a London-based business linked to Ukraine. In a separate legal case, six Bulgarian nationals have been charged with conspiring to commit espionage activities in the UK on behalf of Russia. Cleverly said he expected “accusations of Russophobia, conspiracy theories and hysteria from the Russian government” following the latest UK measures. But, he said, the UK “will not fall for it, and will not be taken for fools by Putin’s bots, trolls and lackeys”. “Our response will be resolute and firm,” Cleverly said. “Our message to Russia is clear. Stop this illegal war, withdraw your troops from Ukraine, cease this malign activity.” (Source: FT.com)
08 May 24. Russia accused Germany on Wednesday of using baseless myths about Russian hackers to escalate tensions and said Berlin’s decision to recall its ambassador would lead to further deterioration of bilateral ties.
Germany said it had recalled its ambassador to Russia for consultations after Berlin accused Moscow of launching cyberattacks on its defence and aerospace firms and ruling party.
“Berlin regularly exploits the myth of malicious activity of allegedly Russian hackers in Germany, this is done to escalate tensions in bilateral relations,” Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said. “No evidence was presented.”
Berlin said the attacks that started two years ago targeted Germany’s governing Social Democrats as well as companies in the logistics, defence, aerospace and IT sectors. It said it had not provided details of the damage caused for security reasons.
Zakharova said the West was engaged in an information war against Russia which included fictitious and false stories and claims aimed at stoking fears about Russia.
“The recall of the German ambassador from Moscow is nothing more than another unfriendly step aimed at inciting anti-Russian sentiments in Germany, leading to further degradation of bilateral ties,” Zakharova said.
“The entire responsibility for this lies with the German side.” (Reporting by Dmitry Antonov; Writing by Olzhas Auyezov; editing by Guy Faulconbridge) (Source: Google/Reuters)
08 May 24. UK: Government Data Breach Points To Phishing, Supply Chain Threats, From State-Sponsored Actors. On 7 May, national media sites reported that the UK’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) suffered a data breach after threat actors obtained access to a third-party payroll provider. They were able to access the names and bank details of current regular, reservist and former members of the navy, army and air force. As of 7 May, it was unclear whether the compromised data was exfiltrated.
SIGNIFICANCE
- The incident highlights the security and information-theft risks associated with the software supply chain; it also shows threat actors can exploit third-party organisations to access high-value targets, such as government and defence entities.
- While a threat group has not been attributed to the incident, media sources reported that the attack is suspected to have been conducted by a Chinese state-sponsored group, likely for reconnaissance and potential extortion purposes. Should this be confirmed, ongoing bilateral tensions between China and the UK will likely be sustained.
FORECAST
We assess there is a realistic possibility that phishing campaigns targeting individuals affected by the breach will occur in the short term. Affected individuals whose personal details were breached are vulnerable to future phishing operations. The breach was likely one of several targeted multi-stage espionage operations conducted to gain direct access to sensitive MoD networks. Additionally, affected personnel will face elevated risks of financial fraud or identity theft. Alternatively, there is a possibility that the operation was conducted to obtain information on potential extortion or blackmail targets for future state-sponsored espionage operations.
We assess that the exploitation of third-parties highlights the ongoing security risks facing the government sector via its complex software supply chain. The software supply chain presents an attractive target for threat actors to obtain strategic information, as well as an effective initial access vector into highly sensitive networks. The incident highlights the need for third-party vendors to implement and adhere to strict cyber security policies as government entities seek to mitigate the risks associated with third-party software to secure sensitive data. (Source: Sibylline)
07 May 24. Finland partners with Virginia National Guard. Finland has joined Virginia National Guard as partners in the US National Guard Partnership Program.
On 2 May 2024, the Finnish Minister of Defence, Antti Häkkänen, and the Governor of Virginia, Glenn Youngkin, signed a Letter of Intent in Helsinki, formally marking Finland’s entry into the United States National Guard State Partnership Program (SPP).
Through this partnership, the Finnish Defence Forces will gain access to enhanced training opportunities, joint exercises, and deeper sectoral cooperation, especially within the domains of the Army, Air Force, and cyber security.
Finland entered into Nato on 7 March 2024, after reconsidering its national security policy in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
US Air National Guard units are a significant element in Nato’s Air Policing mission, and ongoing mission intercepting Russian aircraft outstepping Russian airspace without flight clearance, and, in some cases, without activating transponders to properly identify and locate the aircraft. Nato intercepted Russian military aircraft more than 300 times in 2023.
The State Partnership Program enables collaborative ties between the US National Guard—comprising approximately 340,000 personnel across various states—and foreign nations. Virginia, designated as Finland’s state partner, contributes 8,450 personnel to this force, engaged primarily in regional missions such as rescue operations, evacuations, and protection details.
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin announced the partnership on 2 May: “Now more than ever, it is critically important we build and maintain key strategic relationships to enhance security and provide new avenues for economic development, and I have no doubt the Virginia National Guard’s partnership with Finland will bring greater peace, stability and opportunity,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “I know making this formal partnership a reality required tremendous effort and energy, and I want to thank our Virginia National Guard and the Finnish Ministry of Defense for their hard work.”
A relationship between the Virginia National Guard (VANG) and the Finnish Defence Forces (FDF) has been established for over two decades, dating back to their joint deployment in 2001-2002. During this period, they served together as part of NATO’s SFOR-10 Stabilization Force in the Multinational Division North in Bosnia-Herzegovina. This longstanding cooperation laid the groundwork for the current VANG-FDF strategic partnership.
The VANG-FDF strategic partnership initially focused on Army Guard collaborations, but the partnership has expanded over the past two years to include the Air Guard, which has fostered a growing relationship with the Finnish Air Force. With Finland’s recent accession to Nato, these ties are anticipated to further strengthen, enhancing military cooperation between the two nations.
Finnish pilots visited Virginia Air National Guard in June 2023, with Lt. Col. Lawrence Dietrich, 149th Fighter Squadron commander, saying at the time that, “An official state partnership would be mutually beneficial to both Finland and the Commonwealth of Virginia.”
“The Virginia Air National Guard 149th FS is leading USAF efforts in Agile Combat Employment – an area where there is much to learn from the Finnish Air Force as they operate with an ACE mindset daily. Additionally, the 149th has tremendous experience with fifth-generation fighter integration tactics and can provide this expertise to Finland as they begin to procure F-35s and fly them alongside their existing F-18 fleet,” continued Dietrich.
This new partnership aligns with ongoing efforts to broaden the scope of defence collaboration between the United States and Finland, providing additional resources for the development of Finland’s military capabilities.
The State Partnership Program, established in 1993, currently includes around one hundred partner countries across Europe, South America, Africa, and Asia, with new partnerships forming annually. The US European Command (USEUCOM) plays a crucial role in facilitating these collaborations, particularly with European countries. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
06 May 24. Ministry of Defence ‘hacked by China’ – reports. The Ministry of Defence of the UK has been ‘hacked’, it’s been reported tonight (Monday). An investigation is underway into the cyber attack, with MPs due to be briefed on Tuesday (April 7).
An investigation into the cyber attack is underway, with two or three reported hacking attempts targeting departmental employees. The government will not name the country involved, but sources suggest that it was carried out by China, Sky News reports.
Bank details and names of employees on the payroll were reportedly exposed. this is believed to have included veterans, officials and current service personnel, according to ExpressOnline.
However, it is not believed to have an impact on salaries being paid. Sky says MoD sources hope service personnel will not be concerned about their own safety.
They will be offered support and advice about the “hack” tomorrow. The system, from a contractor, is not believed to be connected to the main MoD computer network.
It has been taken down and a review into the issue launched, the broadcaster reports. Over the last 72 hours, the MoD is said to have been working at speed to understand the full scale of the incident.
It is expected to raise questions over whether other countries with a difficult relationship with China would want to share intelligence with the United Kingdom. (Source: News Now/Yahoo!)
06 May 24. Russia warns it could target British military sites after Lord Cameron’s Ukraine war comments.
Kremlin reacts to ‘provocative statements and threats’ made by Western officials about conflict
Tactical nuclear weapons have a lower yield compared to massive warheads that arm intercontinental ballistic missiles (pictured) CREDIT: Getty Images Europe
Russia has warned it could target British military sites as it announced snap nuclear weapons drills in response to “provocative” comments by Lord Cameron and Emmanuel Macron.
The country’s foreign ministry summoned Britain’s ambassador on Monday to protest the Foreign Secretary’s backing for Kyiv to fire British-made weapons into Russia.
“An answer to a Ukrainian strike on Russia using British weapons would be made against any British military facilities or equipment in Ukraine and beyond,” the ministry said in a statement.
France’s ambassador in Moscow was also summoned to the ministry for a complaint about President Emmanuel Macron after he said that French soldiers could be sent to Ukraine.
Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, said that striking Russia with Nato missiles and deploying Nato forces to Ukraine were red lines that should not be crossed.
He added: “They were talking about being prepared and even intending to send armed deployments to Ukraine, which is essentially putting Nato soldiers against the Russian military.
“This is a completely new round of escalating tensions. It is unprecedented and requires special measures.”
It came as Vladimir Putin, Russia’s president, ordered his army to simulate the use of tactical nuclear weapons over the “threats” from Britain and France.
The Russian defence ministry told its Southern Military District, which borders eastern Ukraine, to hold tactical nuclear weapon drills “to practice the preparation and use of non-strategic nuclear weapons”.
“We hope that this event will cool down the ‘hotheads’ in Western capitals,” it added.
Drills ‘soon’
Russia’s military doctrine allows it to use tactical nuclear weapons on battlefields and it has previously threatened to fire them at Ukrainian forces in Donbas.
Tactical nuclear weapons are small missiles and bombs designed to destroy large numbers of enemy units on a battlefield, rather than strategic intercontinental ballistic missiles which can wipe out cities.
Rocket, naval and aviation forces would hold the drills “soon”, the ministry said.
Analysts said that Russia announcing the drills specifically in response to Western statements marked a fresh development in its nuclear signalling.
William Alberque, the former director of Nato’s Arms Control, Disarmament and Non-Proliferation centre, said: “My impression is that this is a clear attempt to use nuclear coercion against Macron himself for his recent statements on Ukraine and Russia.
“We are certainly embarking on unknown territory in terms of nuclear signalling.”
The Kremlin has not tested a nuclear warhead since 1990 and is a signatory to the 1996 Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, which bans all nuclear tests.
Even so, the Kremlin regularly makes a show of testing strategic missile systems capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.
Last year, Sergei Karaganov, chairman of Russia’s influential Council for Foreign and Defence Policy think tank, said that tactical nuclear weapons should be used in Donbas to blunt a Nato-backed Ukrainian offensive and to “lower the threshold for the use of nuclear weapons”.
(Source: Daily Telegraph)
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Founded in 1987, Exensor Technology is a world leading supplier of Networked Unattended Ground Sensor (UGS) Systems providing tailored sensor solutions to customers all over the world. From our Headquarters in Lund Sweden, our centre of expertise in Network Communications at Communications Research Lab in Kalmar Sweden and our Production site outside of Basingstoke UK, we design, develop and produce latest state of the art rugged UGS solutions at the highest quality to meet the most stringent demands of our customers. Our systems are in operation and used in a wide number of Military as well as Homeland Security applications worldwide. The modular nature of the system ensures any external sensor can be integrated, providing the user with a fully meshed “silent” network capable of self-healing. Exensor Technology will continue to lead the field in UGS technology, provide our customers with excellent customer service and a bespoke package able to meet every need. A CNIM Group Company
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