Britain’s Defence Secretary Wes Streeting told the Financial Times he favors more direct military contact with Russia to lower miscalculation risks, while calling the embassy in Moscow an important channel.
Streeting tied his preference to the possibility of a military misreading. “There is always a risk of miscalculation, and that’s why having that direct communication is important,” he said. He described military links as an addition to the existing diplomatic channel.
The Financial Times reported, citing unnamed British officials, that Moscow had rebuffed earlier British efforts to restore senior defence contacts. The newspaper also reported that no serving British defence secretary or chief of defence staff had spoken with a Russian counterpart since 2022.
The UK Ministry of Defence and defence ministers from France, Germany, Italy, Poland and the UK said in a joint Oct. 26 statement that Russia was the “most acute and long-term threat” to Euro-Atlantic security and stability.
In a Nov. 2 release, the Royal Navy described three operations that covered 17 days and monitored Russian activity in UK waters. The Navy said one involved tracking a Russian frigate in the English Channel from Oct. 1 to 14. The statement and the naval operations provide context for Streeting’s remarks: Britain has publicly identified Russia as a long-term threat while monitoring Russian activity in its waters.
Streeting has also spoken about Britain’s military readiness.
The Associated Press reported that Russian and Ukrainian officials were scheduled to meet in Abu Dhabi on Nov. 10 and 11 for U.S.-brokered talks. The AP also reported that U.S. officials were due to discuss European security with European representatives.
