Overview
- Blaise Metreweli, in her maiden address, said “the frontline is everywhere” and labeled Russia “aggressive, expansionist and revisionist,” pledging sustained UK backing for Ukraine.
- She outlined cyberattacks, drones, sabotage and disinformation as Moscow’s below‑threshold operations, saying Britain is operating in a space between peace and war.
- The MI6 head pressed for technological mastery across the service — “as fluent in Python as in multiple languages” — noting that control of advanced tech is shifting beyond states.
- Chief of the defence staff Sir Richard Knighton urged a whole‑of‑society push for national resilience and warned the price of peace is rising, with a higher risk of a NATO member being attacked.
- Policy steps highlighted include fresh sanctions, a new Military Intelligence Services structure and £50 million for Defence Technical Excellence Colleges, alongside UK engagement at a Berlin summit with Ukraine and US envoys.