 DCUK-INTELWeekly public intelligence brief on UK foreign & security policies: For members of Declassified UK onlyIssue 46 – Week to 3 February 2022 EUROPE Russia/Ukraine Amid UK claims about imminent Russian action against Ukraine, the UK government stepped up its rhetoric and military deployments. Foreign secretary Liz Truss wrote: “We are offering NATO additional fast jets, warships and military specialists. We are doubling troop numbers to Estonia and have the HMS Prince of Wales [aircraft carrier] on standby to move should tensions rise further.” It was revealed that Russian donors have given the UK Conservative Party £2m since Boris Johnson took office and that a quarter of Cabinet ministers have received funds from three Russian sources. The UK government announced new legislation in parliament to be able to “toughen and expand the UK’s sanctions regime” against Russian officials.Boris Johnson reiterated in a phone call with President Putin that Nato policy is to allow Ukraine to join the organisation – the key source of tension from the Russian side over Ukraine.The UK government was asked in parliament whether UK anti-tank weapons sent to Ukraine may end up in the hands of the neo-Nazi Azov Battalion. The government gives a cautious answer, not ruling this out, but saying it doesn’t train or assist the National Guard, which includes the Azov Battalion. MIDDLE EAST Gulf The UK conducted military naval exercises with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait. “Forces practiced high value unit escorting with regional partners to enhance cooperation and increase interoperability.”IranThe UK government issued another apparent veiled military threat to Iran. Foreign minister James Cleverly said that if the nuclear deal with Iran collapses “we would carefully consider all options”. This repeated similar statements last month. Israel As Amnesty International released a report on apartheid against Palestinians in Israel, the UK reaffirmed its military collaboration with Israel. Foreign Minister James Cleverly confirmed the UK/Israel ‘roadmap’ which involves a “strong defence and security relationship”. Saudi Arabia/Yemen UK foreign minister James Cleverly spoke to Saudi vice minister for foreign affairs Waleed El Khereiji. The Saudis said “they discussed bilateral relations between the two countries with ways to enhance them in all fields”.The government was asked in parliament if components from a Raytheon factory in Scotland were part of the missile that killed dozens in an air strike on a prison in Yemen. It replied that it is “looking into” it. Defence minister James Heappey denied media reports that British troops were present at Al-Dhafra military base in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) when it was attacked by Yemen’s Houthi rebels last month. United Arab Emirates UK foreign minister James Cleverly met UAE foreign minister Abdullah bin Zayed in Abu Dhabi. The UAE press said the meeting “discussed strategic partnerships between the two nations”. ASIA China The UK, US and Australian air forces conducted military exercises in the US. The RAF suggested these were focused on China. It stated: “The United States Department of Defence has for this year prioritised the People’s Republic of China as what it calls its number one pacing challenge, and Exercise RED FLAG helps United States and Allied aviators to develop the right operational concepts, capabilities and plans to bolster deterrence and maintain a competitive advantage.” Kazakhstan The UK government said it was “aware of figures from official sources that indicate that as many as 225 were killed in addition to 19 law enforcement officers” in the recent protests in Kazakhstan. The UK has rejected calls to end military training of the regime’s forces. AFRICA Nigeria The UK and Nigeria held the first meeting of their Security and Defence Partnership Dialogue in London. The talks were led by UK National Security Adviser, Sir Stephen Lovegrove and Nigerian National Security Adviser, Maj-Gen. Babagana Monguno.Defence Minister Jeremy Quin met with Nigeria’s Chief of the Defence Staff, General Irabor, “to affirm the UK’s commitment to West Africa and discuss how the UK can help Nigeria meet its future equipment needs”, the UK Ministry of Defence stated. AMERICAS Argentina Argentina’s Foreign Ministry labelled a new UK military deployment in the Falkland Islands as “a new and unjustified show of force and a deliberate departure from the calls of the numerous resolutions of the United Nations and other international organizations.” It referred to the installation of a new-generation ground-based Sky Saber anti-aircraft system. MILITARY/INTELLIGENCE The UK government reiterated in parliament its opposition to establishing a new international legally-binding instrument to regulate autonomous weapons systems, such as drones. A report showing Ministry of Defence accounts for 2020/21 show that the cost of UK air strikes and operations against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria since 2014 has now topped £2 billion. The UK published its first Defence Space Strategy. The government said: “As part of the new £1.4 billion investment, over the next ten years £968 million will be committed to deliver a multi-satellite system to support greater global surveillance and intelligence for military operations – known as the ISTARI Programme.” The new strategy regards Space as a “war fighting domain” Catch our member exclusive brief each Thursday Do you enjoy reading DCUK:INTEL every week? Yes Select No Select Are you coming to the next AMA with Kenny MacAskill? LOCATION https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIpceCtpzksEtTY-JKV8n05aN0cgcYakZmc DATE AND TIME 02/10/22 6:00pm – 02/10/22 7:00pm Join Mark, Matt and Phil alongside Kenny MacAskill MP, at 6pm on Thursday the 10th of February for our donor exclusive AMA event. 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