Defence secretary reveals details of recent incursions as he warns UK is facing ‘new era of threat’ from hostile countries
A Russian spy ship has entered British waters and shone lasers at military pilots, the defence secretary has said, as he warned the UK was facing a “new era of threat” from hostile countries.
John Healey told reporters on Wednesday the “deeply dangerous” move was being taken “extremely seriously” by the government, adding the UK would continue monitoring the ship and had “military options ready” should the vessel change course.
He said the surveillance ship had crossed in and out of the UK’s exclusive economic zone multiple times in recent weeks, not for the first time this year.
My very lay-person understanding is that generally there is a level of shit each country accepts, e.g. election meddling, hacking or taking of political prisoners as it is part of the “standard affairs” - and will respond to non-forcefully. (Please don’t see me as advocating or trying to downplay these activities, they are abhorrent).
In order to respond with force or war, a lot of prep needs to go in to make sure that the action will be supported by enough allies to both achieve the goal/s and deal with any possible fallout from retaliation.
I believe the EU and its allies sees that a war response to Russian meddling may bring in China more actively into the picture and the US may not come to back them up (unless China decide to re-take Taiwan). OR they see the long-term economic damage to Russia as significant enough to achieve long term regional impact.
Therefore, the EU may not be confident of opening up conflict unless forced to.
IMO Russia’s actions in the EU are a clear test of the EU’s boundaries and willingness to retaliate.
One theory is putin is desperate to bait a nato attack he can spin as nato entering the ukraine war so he can retreat (or maybe escalate) while saving face.
Im not entirely convinced but its a solid enough theory
I feel like if China is gonna get involved it’ll be to invade Siberia for the significant amount of oil resource that is available