UK government is preparing for the possibility of an attack from Russia or Iran, according to security strategy reports
The UK government is preparing for the possibility of an attack on its territory by Russia or Iran, according to the government's National Security Strategy, updated on June 25.
A government review has warned that Russia's growing military power and Iran's increasing attacks abroad could lead to civil conflict within Russia. The document also highlights the potential risks to the UK.
The warning mirrors recent comments by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who said that without a significant increase in defense spending, Britons “might as well learn to speak Russian.”
“Some adversaries are laying the groundwork for future conflict by positioning themselves to disrupt our energy and supply chains to deter us from confronting their aggression,” the government’s security strategy states. “For the first time in many years, we must actively prepare for the possibility that the UK will be directly threatened, possibly in a military scenario.”
In a foreword to the review, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer argued that the global landscape has shifted dramatically.
“Russian aggression threatens our continent. Strategic competition is intensifying. Extremist ideologies are on the rise. Technology is changing the nature of both war and internal security. Hostile states are operating on British soil,” Starmer said.
The document, published on June 24, delves deeper into the security threats facing the UK, naming Russia as the primary threat, especially due to its cyberattacks and sabotage attempts.
“The war (Russia's invasion of Ukraine) is accompanied by a campaign of indirect activity — including cyberattacks and sabotage — by Russia against the UK and other NATO allies, as well as heightened nuclear rhetoric aimed at constraining our decision-making,” the review states.
The document also highlights Russia’s ongoing attacks on the UK’s undersea cables, which carry 99% of the country’s digital data. These cables, it notes, are under “constant and increasing” threats from Russian submarines.
The review further singles out Iran as a growing threat, citing Tehran’s alliance with Moscow and its rising attacks on dissidents abroad.
“Iran’s hostile activity on British soil is also increasing, part of the Iranian regime’s efforts to silence its critics abroad, and it directly threatens the UK,” the review says.
On March 25, Major General Vadym Skibitskyi, deputy head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense, reported that Russia was considering 15 potential military conflict scenarios by 2045, with six scenarios concerning Northern Europe and four specifically involving Poland.
Rutte, commenting on the HUR information, stated that NATO would respond “with full force” if Russia attacks any of its member countries.
In January, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius warned that given the growing Russian military, there is a possibility of an attempted Russian attack on NATO countries in 2029-2030. He emphasized the importance of strengthening NATO's defense capabilities by that time.
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