In his first major speech since taking up the role, Britain’s Foreign Secretary, David Cameron said that the West needs to undermine and expose “the malign networks that Russia uses to spread its lies.”
He said that over the last five years, Britain had invested in that project by backing free media and supporting independent journalism in places like Georgia and Moldova, “where Russia seeks to bully and manipulate politics.”
He stated that the “adversaries of Britain and its allies” had no hesitation about using outright lies and were using new tools to distract and mislead,
“We must be bolder in combating their combating their poisonous methods of deceit,” Cameron said, saying that this was what Britain and the US did when they publicised intelligence about Russia’s intention to invade Ukraine before it happened.
“It was an unprecedented step and it made it clear what Putin was planning to do, assault a neighbour without a scrap of justification,” he stated.
Cameron said that Britain had imposed unprecedented sanctions against Russia and was continuing to call on allies to maintain military support for Ukraine.
He described the conflict in Gaza as “wholly different” to the war in Ukraine.
“Yes, the suffering in Gaza is appalling, but an unprovoked war against an independent country like Ukraine that poses no threat, is wholly different from the conflict that has grown from the brutal attacks of October 7.
“And in each case, we are consistently pursuing the fastest route to sustainable peace, consistent with the principles of the UN. Charter.”
David Cameron
Cameron hit out at European governments who have not increase defence spending in the light of new dangers.
He called on NATO allies to stick to an agreement made a decade ago to commit to spending 2% of gross domestic product (GDP) on defence.
He stated that after that they will have to make 2.5% the new “benchmark.”
“We need to adopt a harder edge for a tougher world. Take the Red Sea, where ship after ship from a whole host of countries have been attacked.
“While many countries have criticised the Houthis, it is actually only the US and Britain that have been willing to step up to strike back. Take defence spending in Europe, which still some seem unwilling to invest, even as war rages on.”
David Cameron
Cameron also announced a new £1m programme for the British Council to teach English to Ukrainian civil servants, saying that Britain should also not hold back on championing the language around the world.
UK Urged To Bolster Security
Moreover, Cameron asserted that the government needs to do more to prioritise security than when he was Prime Minister to bolster resilience against covert foreign influences.
Cameron instanced attacks on Britain’s democracy in the UK and referred to a suspected Russian operation in the UK.
The UK must have the “courage to act,” Cameron said, adding that too many “adopt a kind of defensive crouch” instead of taking action, but Britain can choose to make a difference together with its partners.
Cameron averred that the UK needed to be bolder in standing up for what it believes in.
“It is profoundly in our national interest to defend those core beliefs. Freedom, the rule of law, respect or human rights and dignity, and to defend the core principles of an open international order, right not might, sovereignty and territorial integrity, freedom of navigation.”
David Cameron
Cameron said that these were vital foundations for British and global security and prosperity.
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