Former MI6 Chief Alex Younger depicts China as 'generational threat' and Russia as 'implacably hostile'
Alex Younger, the former Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service (better known as MI6) has used the excitement generated by the publication of the government's long-awaited Integrated Review of Security, Defense, Development and Foreign Policy, to express his trenchant views on China and Russia.
Speaking just ahead of the publication of the review, Younger described China as the “generational threat” whilst depicting Russia as “implacably hostile” to the UK.
Younger, who was Chief of MI6 from November 2014 to September 2020, warned the UK’s relationship with Beijing may become more strained, before adding that there would be an “ideological divergence” between UK and China in the future.
He also stressed that the Covid-19 pandemic had “closed the gap” between the two countries, thus putting pressure on the UK to restore its technological and scientific lead.
Speaking to the BBC Radio 4’s Today program, Younger pointed to China’s growing strength before adding that the UK and its allies need to match that strength as a matter of urgency.
“We need to generate that strength through technological innovations and stewarding our alliances”, Younger explained.
The former MI6 boss said he expects China’s Communist Party “to double down on its ideology in the future”, which will further “generate rivalry and reduce trust” between the two states.
Younger's prognosis on the future relationship with Russia - or more precisely the management of the threat that country supposedly poses to the UK - was also remarkably similar to the contents of the Integrated Review.
In that context, Younger ominously - and perhaps alarmingly - warned that Russia's "modernized" weapons can inflict "enormous" damage to the UK.
Weeks-long protest opposite UK parliament calls for Israel arms embargo
101 BBC staff accuse broadcaster of Israel bias in Gaza war coverage
UK’s Barclays divests from weapons company Elbit, deals new blow to Israel
Democrats 'risk losing' election for backing Israeli war on Gaza, Lebanon: US journalist
Protesters remove busts of Israel's first president from Manchester Univ.
VIDEO | Hezbollah drones
US involvement in Israel’s 'regional war' unconstitutional, lawmakers tell Biden
107 years of Balfour Declaration that paved way for extermination of Palestinians
Hezbollah strikes Israeli military base near Tel Aviv
Palestinian media rights group condemns killing of two journalists by Israel
VIDEO | A Tale of Bombs, Blame, and Bedtime Stories
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
