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Burnham faces demands to come clean with Brits about Russian 'shadow war'
Burnham pressured to explain Russian 'shadow war' threats and boost defense spending as allies warn.
In brief
Burnham pressured to explain Russian 'shadow war' threats and boost defense spending as allies warn. Andy Burnham faces calls to detail UK's response to Russian hybrid warfare threats and increase defense spending to 3.5% of GDP by 2035. Originally reported by Dailymail.
Burnham faces demands
Andy Burnham is facing demands to come clean with Britons about the threat being posed by Russia's 'shadow' war against NATO allies.
“Andy Burnham is facing demands to come clean with Britons about the threat being posed by Russia's 'shadow' war against NATO allies”
Tory leader and Reform UK call for clarity
Both Tory leader Kemi Badenoch and Reform UK's Nigel Farage have called on the Prime Minister to set out in greater detail how he plans to keep the UK safe.
“Both Tory leader Kemi Baden: 'It is not clear that the Government is taking the threat from Russia seriously enough.'”
Russia's hybrid strikes warning
It follows warnings that Russia is planning hybrid strikes with drones or rockets on European countries supporting Ukraine.
“It follows warnings that Russia is planning hybrid strikes with drones or rockets on European countries supporting Ukraine”
NATO shot down drone
NATO fighter pilots this week shot down a drone that was said to have entered Lithuania's airspace from neighbouring Belarus, an ally of Russia.
“NATO fighter pilots this week shot down a drone that was said to have entered Lithuania's airspace from neighbouring Belarus, an ally of Russia”
Poland's PM warns of Russian tactics
In a speech on Thursday, Poland's PM Donald Tusk suggested Moscow will pretend attacks on Ukrainian allies are 'accidental' in its attempt to 'paralyse or at least weaken the motivation of NATO countries'.
“In a speech on Thursday, Poland's PM Donald Tusk suggested Moscow will pretend attacks on Ukrainian allies are 'accidental' in its attempt to 'paralyse or at least weaken the motivation of NATO countries'”
French President seeks urgent talks
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron was expected to convene a meeting at the Elysee Palace with opposition leaders on Friday.
“French President Emmanuel Macron was expected to convene a meeting at the Elysee Palace with opposition leaders on Friday”
Macron focuses on Ukraine conflict
The talks will reportedly focus on the consequences for France of the 'rapid deterioration' in the global situation amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict and Iran war.
“The talks will reportedly focus on the consequences for France of the 'rapid deterioration' in the global situation amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict and Iran war”
Macron shares intelligence
Mr Macron is said to be ready to share intelligence that he currently only has access to as head of state.
“Mr Macron is said to be ready to share intelligence that he currently only has access to as head of state”
Germany warns of Russian drone attack
At the beginning of this month, Germany said Russia was responsible for a drone attack at Leipzig's airport in August and said it expected to be targeted again.
“At the beginning of this month, Germany said Russia was responsible for a drone attack at Leipzig's airport in August and said it expected to be targeted again”
Germany prepares for conflict
Berlin is said to be stepping up preparations for its hospitals in a potential conflict with Russia.
“Berlin is said to be stepping up preparations for its hospitals in a potential conflict with Russia”
German army chief warns
The German army chief has previously warned the country must be ready for a Russian attack by 2029 or even earlier.
“The German army chief has previously warned the country must be ready for a Russian attack by 2029 or even earlier”
Badenoch urges defense spending
In a post on X, Mrs Badenoch urged Mr Burnham and the Labour Government to match the 'growing urgency' of NATO allies in stepping up military preparations and boosting defence spending.
“In a post on X, Mrs Badenoch urged Mr Burnham and the Labour Government to match the 'growing urgency' of NATO allies in stepping up military preparations and boosting defence spending”
NATO calls for defense spending
Following talks with Mr Burnham, Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband and Defence Secretary Wes Streeting this week, NATO secretary general Mark Rutte called on the Government to set out a 'credible path' to spending 3.5 per cent of GDP on defence by 2035.
“Following talks with Mr Burnham, Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband and Defence Secretary Wes Streeting this week, NATO secretary general Mark Rutte called on the Government to set out a 'credible path' to spending 3.5 per cent of GDP on defence by 2035”
Current defense spending target
The Government has so far only budgeted to hike defence spending to 2.7 per cent of GDP by 2027/28, but there are no firm details on how further increases will be achieved beyond that date despite 3.5 per cent by 2035 being a NATO target.
“The Government has so far only budgeted to hike defence spending to 2.7 per cent of GDP by 2027/28, but there are no firm details on how further increases will be achieved beyond that date despite 3.5 per cent by 2035 being a NATO target”
Chancellor quits defense role
Chancellor John Healey quit as defence secretary in Keir Starmer's administration in a row over funding, arguing that it was necessary to reach 3 per cent by 2030.
“Chancellor John Healey quit as defence secretary in Keir Starmer's administration in a row over funding, arguing that it was necessary to reach 3 per cent by 2030”
Badenoch's concerns
'Macron and Tusk are speaking and acting with an urgency that makes the latest reports about Russia violating Lithuanian airspace even more concerning,' Mrs Badenoch wrote. 'It is not clear that the Government is taking the threat from Russia seriously enough.'
“Macron and Tusk are speaking and acting with an urgency that makes the latest reports about Russia violating Lithuanian airspace even more concerning, Mrs Badenoch wrote. 'It is not clear that the Government is taking the threat from Russia seriously enough.'”
CIA director's Moscow visit
It came only weeks after CIA Director John Ratcliffe made an unannounced visit to Moscow, reportedly to warn Russia against attacking a NATO member.
“It came only weeks after CIA Director John Ratcliffe made an unannounced visit to Moscow, reportedly to warn Russia against attacking a NATO member”
Foreign Office responds to Russia
The Foreign Office has hit back at the Kremlin after Vladimir Putin warned British facilities in Ukraine would be considered 'legitimate targets' if they are used to support long-range strikes against Russia.
“The Foreign Office has hit back at the Kremlin after Vladimir Putin warned British facilities in Ukraine would be considered 'legitimate targets' if they are used to support long-range strikes against Russia”
Russia summons UK diplomat
The Russian foreign ministry summoned the UK's deputy head of mission in Moscow Danae Dholakia to complain about British support for Ukraine in the war triggered by Mr Putin's invasion four years ago.
“The Russian foreign ministry summoned the UK's deputy head of mission in Moscow Danae Dholakia to complain about British support for Ukraine in the war triggered by Mr Putin's invasion four years ago”
Russia threatens retaliation
The senior diplomat was warned that Russia could take 'retaliatory measures' in response.
“The senior diplomat was warned that Russia could take 'retaliatory measures' in response”
The key point
Andy Burnham faces calls to detail UK's response to Russian hybrid warfare threats and increase defense spending to 3.5% of GDP by 2035.
