The head of Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service, the foreign spy service known as MI6, has warned that Russia "remains an aggressive and expansionist threat", vowing sustained support for Ukraine and calling for greater use of technology to protect UK security.
In her first public speech since taking office in October, MI6 Chief Blaise Metreweli is expected to accuse Moscow of exporting instability as part of its global strategy.
Metreweli will also say President Vladimir Putin should be in “no doubt” about Britain’s continued backing of Ukraine, according to advance extracts of her remarks.
"(Vladimir) Putin should be in no doubt, our support is enduring.The pressure we apply on Ukraine's behalf will be sustained," Metreweli will say on Monday.
She will also say that pressure on Russia will continue until Putin is forced to change his approach, describing chaos as a deliberate feature of Russian foreign policy.
"The export of chaos is a feature not a bug in the Russian approach to international engagement, and we should be ready for this to continue until Putin is forced to change his calculus."
Metreweli will also highlight the need to ramp up the use of technology to tackle threats to UK security, including terrorism and information warfare. She is expected to say intelligence officers must be as skilled in coding as they are in traditional espionage, calling for technology to be embedded across all areas of intelligence work.
"Mastery of technology must infuse everything we do. Not just in our labs, but in the field, in our tradecraft, and even more importantly, in the mindset of every officer. We must be as comfortable with lines of code as we are with human sources, as fluent in Python as we are in multiple languages," she will say.
She is the first woman to lead MI6 service in its 116-year history after replacing Sir Richard Moore.
Over the weekend and last week, Germany has been hosting talks involving the U.S. and Ukrainian delegations on a potential ceasefire deal, ahead of a summit in Berlin later on Monday (15 December) with European leaders.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the UK has imposed sanctions on Russian business figures, political leaders, companies and ships, including the GRU military intelligence agency.
Richard Knighton, head of Britain's armed forces, will also call in a separate speech on Monday for a "whole society" approach to defence in the face of growing uncertainty and threats, and highlight an increased probability of Russia invading a NATO country.
An unidentified man was taken into custody on Tuesday (17 February) after running towards the U.S. Capitol carrying a loaded shotgun and wearing tacti...
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has warned that clearing the vast of rubble in Gaza could take up to seven years at the current pace, ...
Peru’s Congress has voted to censure and remove José Enrique Jeri Ore from his posts as President of Congress and acting President of the Republic,...
French supporters celebrated outside the biathlon stadium in Anterselva on Tuesday (17 February) after France claimed Olympic gold in the men’s rela...
More than 80 countries and organisations, including the UN Arab Group representing 22 Arab states and members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperati...
Artificial intelligence chatbots could soon face the same legal restriction as social media platforms under plans outlined by the UK government to tighten online safety laws, as Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned technology firms they will be held accountable for illegal AI-generated content.
Britain and Germany’s highest ranking military chiefs have made an unprecedented joint appeal to the public to accept the “moral” case for rearmament and prepare for the threat of war with Russia.
Buckingham Palace said it is ready to support any police investigation into allegations that Prince Andrew shared confidential British trade documents with late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as King Charles expressed “profound concern” over the latest revelations.
Pressure is mounting on UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer amid resignations and a row over Peter Mandelson, a powerful figure in the ruling Labour Party. The episode has raised doubts about Starmer’s authority and how firmly his own party continues to back him.
Cuba’s fuel crisis has turned into a waste crisis, with rubbish piling up on most street corners in Havana as many collection trucks lack enough petrol to operate.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards navy held military exercises in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday (16 February), state-linked media reported. The drill took place a day before renewed nuclear negotiations between Tehran and Washington in Geneva.
The 2026 Munich Security Conference (MSC) unfolded over three intense days in Munich, confronting a defining question of our era: has the post-Second World War international order collapsed - and if so, what will replace it?
Britain and Germany’s highest ranking military chiefs have made an unprecedented joint appeal to the public to accept the “moral” case for rearmament and prepare for the threat of war with Russia.
Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carney, announced on 16 February that the Honourable Janice Charette has been appointed as the next Chief Trade Negotiator to the United States. She's been tasked with overseeing the upcoming review of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA).
An unidentified man was taken into custody on Tuesday (17 February) after running towards the U.S. Capitol carrying a loaded shotgun and wearing tactical gear, according to Capitol Police Chief Michael Sullivan.
Peru’s Congress has voted to censure and remove José Enrique Jeri Ore from his posts as President of Congress and acting President of the Republic, just four months into his tenure, citing undisclosed meetings with Chinese businessmen and alleged hiring irregularities.
French supporters celebrated outside the biathlon stadium in Anterselva on Tuesday (17 February) after France claimed Olympic gold in the men’s relay, describing the race as thrilling and the atmosphere electric.
Day 11 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics delivered decisive performances, medal celebrations and emotional tributes as the Games moved deeper into their final stages.
The Kremlin has sought to lower expectations ahead of the latest round of Ukraine peace talks in Geneva, saying no announcements should be expected on Tuesday as negotiations continue behind closed doors.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment