Military Space News
SUPERPOWERS
Russia waging 'reckless' sabotage campaign in Europe: UK spy chief
Reuters Events SMR and Advanced Reactor 2025
Russia waging 'reckless' sabotage campaign in Europe: UK spy chief
By Stuart Williams
Paris (AFP) Nov 29, 2024

Russia is waging a reckless campaign of sabotage in Europe, the British foreign intelligence chief warned on Friday, accusing President Vladimir Putin of showing a mixture of "bluster and aggression".

In a rare public speech abroad, the head of the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS, also known as MI6), Richard Moore, also said that while Iran had been affected by the degrading of allied militias in the Middle East, its nuclear programme "threatens us all".

"We have recently uncovered a staggeringly reckless campaign of Russian sabotage in Europe, even as Putin and his acolytes resort to nuclear sabre-rattling to sow fear about the consequences of aiding Ukraine and challenge Western resolve," Moore said in a speech in Paris.

He did not disclose details as to the nature of the sabotage but said such "activity and rhetoric" was "dangerous and beyond irresponsible".

Moore acknowledged the cost of Western support for Ukraine, which has been fighting Russia's full-scale invasion since February 2022.

But he warned the "cost of not doing so would be infinitely higher".

"If Putin is allowed to succeed in reducing Ukraine to a vassal state, he will not stop there," said Moore.

"If Putin succeeds, China would weigh the implications, North Korea would be emboldened and Iran would become still more dangerous," he said.

But, Moore continued: "We have no doubt that our Ukrainian friends have the will to win."

British and French intelligence services had been "critical" in informing decisions made by their respective governments, "so they can navigate successfully Putin's mix of bluster and aggression", he said.

Moore said Russia was relying on support from China, Iran and North Korea, whose military assistance for Moscow, according to the West, now extends to the deployment of troops.

"Putin... is jeopardising Russia's future, pouring vast sums into his military machine and squandering tens of thousands of lives -- Russian and now North Korean -- in his catastrophic conflict," Moore said.

- 'Never seen a more dangerous world' -

Moore meanwhile said that Iran's nuclear ambitions posed a major global security threat even after the blows dealt by Israel to Tehran-backed militant groups Hamas in the Gaza Strip and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

"Iran's allied militias across the Middle East have suffered serious blows. But the regime's nuclear ambitions continue to threaten all of us."

Western nations have long accused Iran of seeking a nuclear weapon -- a charge denied by Tehran -- and fear the upsurge in tensions with Israel over Gaza and Lebanon will only accelerate that process.

After authorities in the United States and Europe warned of the risk to Iranian exiles of killings and even kidnappings, Moore said "the Iranian regime maintains its efforts to eliminate dissidents at home and abroad".

Moore, a former British ambassador to Turkey, has combined a career in the secret service and diplomacy and is the first head of M16 -- a position traditionally known as "C" -- to be active on social media.

"In 37 years in the intelligence profession, I have never seen the world in a more dangerous state," he commented.

In the highly unusual event organised by the UK embassy in Paris to celebrate security and intelligence ties, Moore was introduced by his French counterpart, Nicolas Lerner, head of France's Directorate-General for External Security (DGSE).

"The possible nuclear proliferation in Iran" constitutes "one of the threats, if not the most critical threat in the coming months", said Lerner.

"The exchange of intelligence will be crucial to enable our authorities to make the right decisions and define the right strategies," the French intelligence chief added.

Related Links
Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com
Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
SUPERPOWERS
Cyprus seeks NATO membership with US help
Nicosia (AFP) Nov 28, 2024
Cyprus is aiming to join NATO and is in talks with the United States to meet the conditions for entering the military alliance, President Nikos Christodoulides said on Thursday. Christodoulides said the discussions explored "how the Republic of Cyprus can utilise these opportunities so that, when all conditions are met, Cyprus can become a NATO member state." NATO member Turkey opposes Cyprus's potential membership, as it does not recognise the government in the island's Greek-speaking south. ... read more

SUPERPOWERS
Russia gave N. Korea anti-air missiles in exchange for troops: Seoul security chief

Ukraine seeking new air-defence systems after latest Russian strike: Zelensky

Think fast: A missile-defense system built for speed

Poland opens long-awaited US missile base

SUPERPOWERS
Putin threatens Kyiv with new hypersonic missile

NATO vows Ukraine backing after Russian missile 'intimidation'

Putin orders serial production of Oreshnik hypersonic missile

Russia vows response after Ukraine fires long-range US missiles

SUPERPOWERS
Russia launches massive aerial attack on Ukraine's energy sector

PLP launches drone kit for installing bird diverters on power lines

'Record' drone barrage pummels Ukraine as missile tensions seethe

Drones spotted flying near US Air Force bases in UK

SUPERPOWERS
Fleet Space Centauri 6 advances resilient SATCOM for defence

SpaceX launches secret 'Optus-X' payload atop Falcon 9 rocket

Fort Detrick Maryland chosen as permanent site for Wideband Military SATCOM training

Momentus secures contract for HALO Prototype from SDA

SUPERPOWERS
Netherlands eyes joining European weapons programmes

Finland mulls reintroduction of banned anti-personnel mines

Cash-strapped UK to decommission aging assault ships, helicopters

UK and Moldova sign defence pact to counter 'Russian aggression'

SUPERPOWERS
Rheinmetall, Lithuania pave way to building ammunition plant

Zelensky approves Ukraine 2025 budget giving 60% to defence

China probes top military official for corruption; Crackdown explained

Russian legislators give final backing to army spending surge

SUPERPOWERS
Russia waging 'reckless' sabotage campaign in Europe: UK spy chief

Japan PM says will have 'frank discussions' with Trump

Swiss government rejects tightening neutrality rules

Cyprus seeks NATO membership with US help

SUPERPOWERS
New Technique Enables Mass Production of Metal Nanowires

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.