Former MI-6 Chief Urges Britain to 'Wake Up' to Putin's Threats.

Former head of MI-6, Sir Alex Younger, urged Great Britain to prepare for defense against Vladimir Putin and to create military reserves to protect against his ambitions in Eastern Europe and the undermining of Western democracies. In an exclusive interview with The Independent, Younger said: 'We cannot sit idly by and watch.' He also emphasized that the British must realize the reality of the Russian threat, especially in the context of relations with the United States. According to him, Putin and Trump have done everything possible to convince us that the rules have changed.

Assessing Britain's readiness for full-scale conflict, Younger expressed concern over the dismantling of the country's military and industrial base. He stated: 'We think about our army like the England football team, but it can no longer be that way.'

According to research, the number of unconventional attacks by Russia on Europe increased by 300% in 2023-2024. A report from CSIS shows that about 27% of attacks targeted transport, 27% targeted government facilities, 21% targeted critical infrastructure, and 21% targeted industry.

Younger also warned about the hybrid war that is already underway, where disinformation, cyberattacks, and economic pressure hold equal weight. He noted that the trio of leaders - Trump, Putin, and Xi Jinping - are trying to divide the world into spheres of influence, ignoring the principles of national sovereignty of European countries.

Trust between the US and its allies was undermined during Trump's first presidency when he disclosed classified information about ISIS to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. According to Younger, this costs a fundamental understanding of the environment in which intelligence services operate amid existing threats.

Despite the challenges posed by the Trump administration, Younger believes that CIA operatives will defend their information sources, and the intelligence-sharing system 'Five Eyes' will continue to operate with increased risks.

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