UK Foreign Minister to urge NATO allies to face down Russia

UK Foreign Minister to urge NATO allies to face down Russia
# 24 March 2021 04:29 (UTC +04:00)

"The UK, as a leading defence and diplomatic power, fully backs NATO as a strong military deterrent to the threats from Russia but also as a strong, united, political bulwark against Moscow’s de-stabilising activities," Raab was quoted as saying ahead of his speech at the in-person NATO ministerial meeting being held in Brussels, APA reports citing Sputnik.

According to the statement, the head of the UK diplomacy will accuse Russia of deploying new and disruptive technologies, and backing cyberattacks that target sensitive data, try to interfere in elections or spread disinformation about coronavirus.

"This is an important opportunity for NATO allies to gather together and discuss the value the rules-based of our alliance in a world where democracies are under threat from authoritarian powers and non-state actors who use cyber threats and malicious new technology to sabotage order," Raab added.

The foreign secretary will also voice his country’s support for the military alliance’s Open Door policy, which offers a route to NATO membership to countries such as Ukraine and Georgia.

Raab’s speech follows the publication on Monday of the integrated review of the post-Brexit UK’s foreign policy, defense and security in which the Conservative government labelled Russia as "the most acute threat to our security."

The foreign ministers of NATO member states convened on Tuesday for a two-day in-person meeting in Brussels for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The items on the agenda include the NATO 2030 proposals, relations with China and Russia, climate change, cybersecurity, combating terrorism, energy security, and other issues of common interest.

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