The UK faces a growing threat landscape from state actors, with security services investigating 50% more threats compared to last year. A senior Foreign Office official warns of a decline in UK expertise to combat these threats, which are increasingly sophisticated and encompass a wide range of tactics, including cyber attacks, disinformation, and even physical assaults.
A senior Foreign Office official revealed that the UK has experienced a decline in expertise and capability to handle state-sponsored threats. Jonathan Allen, the director general for defence and intelligence at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), stated that UK security services are currently investigating 50% more threats compared to a year ago.
Allen emphasized during a speech at the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi) that adversaries are employing a comprehensive range of threats, including arson, assassination, sabotage, cyber attacks, and large-scale information manipulation. He pointed out that states are increasingly utilizing criminal groups to carry out these operations, adopting tactics reminiscent of terrorism. Allen highlighted the escalating risks, stating that the UK is less equipped to address them effectively. He emphasized the need to rebuild expertise and adapt to the current global landscape characterized by more nuclear powers, widespread disinformation, and rapid technological advancements. Allen suggested that the UK must strengthen its response to hostile activities, making aggressors reconsider their actions by imposing substantial costs that could potentially alter their decision-making processes.While he didn't specify the nature of these penalties, Allen urged for a more integrated approach between military and law enforcement, cautioning against a false distinction between wartime and peacetime. This distinction, he argued, hinders the understanding and response to threats from hostile states. He also acknowledged that the UK is yet to reach a consensus on how to effectively handle AI-enabled disinformation. Allen stressed the importance of a collective societal response, involving the private sector, civil society, and the government, to tackle these multifaceted challenges. He reassured that this work is already underway and a priority for the new government. Various departments are actively rebuilding expertise, enhancing resilience, and conducting a comprehensive assessment of the threats they face to develop diverse response options. Collaboration with international allies is also a key focus
SECURITY THREATS STATE SPONSORED TERRORISM CYBER ATTACKS DISINFORMATION FOREIGN OFFICE
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