I am defence and security editor at Sky News - DMs open or my email is Deborah.Haynes@sky.uk
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The Wargame returns and this time it is on screen as we simulate what might happen if Russia attacks the UK
"Every decision is a choice between bad and worse"
youtube.com/watch?v=m0zV0wrv…
Deborah Haynes retweeted
Agreed, but no more talk, and let’s start in Ukraine.
🚨 The UK and its NATO allies should consider going “on the offensive” to defend against Russia - put pressure on the Kremlin, cause them a dilemma and create jeopardy - rather than leaving the initiative with Moscow and defending against whatever Russia does, Lord Mark Sedwill, a former Cabinet Secretary and long-serving UK National Security Adviser, has said.
He said this could be done by using conventional or hybrid defences.
Lord Sedwill, a highly regarded and leading voice in the security community, was speaking on the Royal Navy’s flagship aircraft carrier in Norway at the opening of a conference attended by serving military chiefs and ministers as well as members of the defence industry from across Europe and beyond.
Lord Sedwill posed three questions for the attendees.
Firstly, how can the UK and its allies defend effectively the North Sea and the North Atlantic - Britain’s “frontline” with Russia?
Secondly, how can allies defend against Russian, Iranian and other hostile grey zone attacks such as cyber hacks, assassinations and hoax bomb threats?
But his third point was the most strident.
Here is what Lord Sedwill said at the Atlantic Future Forum:
“This is something I really do want to emphasise. It is not just about defence.
“NATO is a defensive alliance but the most effective form of defence is often to cause a dilemma, it is often to go on the offensive against our adversaries.
“So how can we present our Russian adversaries in particular with a set of strategic dilemmas?
“How do we make them feel they are under threat? Not simply leave the initiative to them and defend against it.
“That is true whether we are talking about land, sea and air but it is also true if we are talking about the hybrid space, space, cyber space and indeed in the information space as well.
“I hope we can think that through as well.
“How - whether it is in conventional defence or in hybrid defence - can we put some pressure on the Russians?
“Because deterrence requires not just effective defence, it does require there to be some jeopardy to our adversaries in continuing to probe us.”
🚨Initial data indicate that Russia may have lost more than 50,000 soldiers - killed and injured - in October fighting Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte says. Other months it has already been at 40,000 personnel, dead and wounded each month.
Deborah Haynes retweeted
Spot on. Don’t ‘concede the initiative’ in @marksedwill ‘s words to the Kremlin across multiple domains.
Opening @FutureAtlantic aboard HMS Prince of Wales in Oslo 👇
NATO is a defensive alliance, but effective deterrence means presenting adversaries with dilemmas, not just defending against them.
Deborah Haynes retweeted
Opening @FutureAtlantic aboard HMS Prince of Wales in Oslo 👇
NATO is a defensive alliance, but effective deterrence means presenting adversaries with dilemmas, not just defending against them.
🚨 The UK and its NATO allies should consider going “on the offensive” to defend against Russia - put pressure on the Kremlin, cause them a dilemma and create jeopardy - rather than leaving the initiative with Moscow and defending against whatever Russia does, Lord Mark Sedwill, a former Cabinet Secretary and long-serving UK National Security Adviser, has said.
He said this could be done by using conventional or hybrid defences.
Lord Sedwill, a highly regarded and leading voice in the security community, was speaking on the Royal Navy’s flagship aircraft carrier in Norway at the opening of a conference attended by serving military chiefs and ministers as well as members of the defence industry from across Europe and beyond.
Lord Sedwill posed three questions for the attendees.
Firstly, how can the UK and its allies defend effectively the North Sea and the North Atlantic - Britain’s “frontline” with Russia?
Secondly, how can allies defend against Russian, Iranian and other hostile grey zone attacks such as cyber hacks, assassinations and hoax bomb threats?
But his third point was the most strident.
Here is what Lord Sedwill said at the Atlantic Future Forum:
“This is something I really do want to emphasise. It is not just about defence.
“NATO is a defensive alliance but the most effective form of defence is often to cause a dilemma, it is often to go on the offensive against our adversaries.
“So how can we present our Russian adversaries in particular with a set of strategic dilemmas?
“How do we make them feel they are under threat? Not simply leave the initiative to them and defend against it.
“That is true whether we are talking about land, sea and air but it is also true if we are talking about the hybrid space, space, cyber space and indeed in the information space as well.
“I hope we can think that through as well.
“How - whether it is in conventional defence or in hybrid defence - can we put some pressure on the Russians?
“Because deterrence requires not just effective defence, it does require there to be some jeopardy to our adversaries in continuing to probe us.”
The perils of attempting a live broadcast on a warship just before a Royal Marines band is about to start playing - it is worth watching to the end…
Deborah Haynes retweeted
We need to recall that we are nearly a year to the day when @haynesdeborah asked @LukePollard about Ajax safety, only to be told, "Deb, we wouldn't put unsafe equipment to our Service men and women" - which then saw the vehicle being pulled from service 2wks after that.
🚨 The UK and its NATO allies should consider going “on the offensive” to defend against Russia - put pressure on the Kremlin, cause them a dilemma and create jeopardy - rather than leaving the initiative with Moscow and defending against whatever Russia does, Lord Mark Sedwill, a former Cabinet Secretary and long-serving UK National Security Adviser, has said.
He said this could be done by using conventional or hybrid defences.
Lord Sedwill, a highly regarded and leading voice in the security community, was speaking on the Royal Navy’s flagship aircraft carrier in Norway at the opening of a conference attended by serving military chiefs and ministers as well as members of the defence industry from across Europe and beyond.
Lord Sedwill posed three questions for the attendees.
Firstly, how can the UK and its allies defend effectively the North Sea and the North Atlantic - Britain’s “frontline” with Russia?
Secondly, how can allies defend against Russian, Iranian and other hostile grey zone attacks such as cyber hacks, assassinations and hoax bomb threats?
But his third point was the most strident.
Here is what Lord Sedwill said at the Atlantic Future Forum:
“This is something I really do want to emphasise. It is not just about defence.
“NATO is a defensive alliance but the most effective form of defence is often to cause a dilemma, it is often to go on the offensive against our adversaries.
“So how can we present our Russian adversaries in particular with a set of strategic dilemmas?
“How do we make them feel they are under threat? Not simply leave the initiative to them and defend against it.
“That is true whether we are talking about land, sea and air but it is also true if we are talking about the hybrid space, space, cyber space and indeed in the information space as well.
“I hope we can think that through as well.
“How - whether it is in conventional defence or in hybrid defence - can we put some pressure on the Russians?
“Because deterrence requires not just effective defence, it does require there to be some jeopardy to our adversaries in continuing to probe us.”
Deborah Haynes retweeted
Counter-terror police say they have arrested a member of the US Army near Gloucester on suspicion of spying for Russia.
The 41-year-old is being held under the National Security Act.
Sky's @HaynesDeborah reports.
Read more: trib.al/YwOTL0r
I understand the US serviceman arrested by British counter terrorism police over allegations of espionage related to Russia is a senior Army officer assigned to NATO’s UK-led Allied Rapid Reaction Corps at Imjin barracks in Gloucestershire.
🚨 NATO confirms the senior US soldier arrested by UK counter terrorism police over allegations of espionage related to Russia was assigned to the alliance’s UK-led Allied Rapid Reaction Corps, which is headquartered at Imjin barracks in Gloucestershire
arrc.nato.int/news/us-servic…
🚨 An officer in the US Army has been arrested in the UK over “allegations of espionage” related to Russia, British and American officials have revealed.
Sky News understands the 41-year-old man was stationed at Imjin Barracks near Innsworth in Gloucestershire, where Nato’s UK-led Allied Rapid Reaction Corps has its headquarters.
The senior soldier was arrested on suspicion of offences under the National Security Act 2023.
Kash Patel, the head of the FBI, said: “This important arrest involves allegations of espionage, which is of the utmost concern to the United States and our allies. While this investigation is continuing, I want to send a clear message – this FBI has no tolerance for anyone who breaks their oath to the United States and whose actions endanger our national security and that of our partners."
news.sky.com/story/member-of…
🚨The US Air Force says “coordinated and appropriate actions” are being taken to ensure the safety and security of US military personnel and others at RAF Mildenhall and RAF Lakenheath. Everyone is urged to report any “unusual or suspicious activity to local authorities”. Also, the two bases “remain vigilant”.
The spokesperson said they are unable to discuss specific force protection measures - this is after more than a dozen aircraft were evacuated from
RAF Mildenhall on Monday amid reports of a security threat linked to Iran.
Here is the full statement from a US Air Force Spokesperson:
“US Air Force aircraft rotate between installations and operating locations for a variety of reasons including training and real world requirements. US military aircraft are hosted in accordance with access, basing, and overflight agreements with our Allies and partners.
“For operational security reasons, we are unable to discuss specific force protection measures. We constantly assess a variety of factors that determine what measures are implemented or modified. In close partnership with our host nation allies, both RAF Mildenhall and RAF Lakenheath remain vigilant. Together, we are taking coordinated and appropriate actions to ensure the safety and security of our US service members, US and host nation civilians, contractors, and all of our families. Protecting our shared community is a joint responsibility, and we encourage everyone to support this effort by reporting any unusual or suspicious activity to local authorities.
“Due to operations security, we will not provide further information on movement of assets.”
The head of the @RoyalNavy and the navy chiefs for the other 9 members of the Joint Expeditionary Force have signed a new agreement to increase maritime security across northern Europe, the North Atlantic & Baltic Sea
General Sir Gwyn Jenkins said: “The threats we face are multiplying & … we must rise to the challenge before us.”
Come out to a @RoyalNavy sea power conference, we are told
It will be awesome as it’s going to be in Norway on the UK’s flagship aircraft carrier….
Slight snag
🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶
🚨 Asked about the exit of multiple military aircraft from RAF Mildenhall in the UK amid reports about a security threat from Iran, a US Air Force spokesperson said: “US Air Force aircraft rotate between installations and operating locations for a variety of reasons including training and real world requirements. US military aircraft are hosted in accordance with access, basing, and overflight agreements with our Allies and partners. Due to operations security, we will not provide further information on movement of assets.”
Deborah Haynes retweeted
BREAKING: US aircraft were moved from an airbase in the UK following a reported threat from Iran
news.sky.com/story/us-aircra…
