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| War with Russia not likely next year, says Defence Secretary Michael Fallon | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Suggestions that Britain could go to war with Russia next year are “too extreme”, the Defence Secretary has said. | Suggestions that Britain could go to war with Russia next year are “too extreme”, the Defence Secretary has said. |
| In a hearing of the Commons Defence Committee Michael Fallon said while there had been “much greater Russian aggression” in 2015, a war next year was not likely. | In a hearing of the Commons Defence Committee Michael Fallon said while there had been “much greater Russian aggression” in 2015, a war next year was not likely. |
| When a member of the committee suggested to the minister that a new book by General Sir Richard Shirreff predicted a war with Russia in 2017, Mr Fallon said: | When a member of the committee suggested to the minister that a new book by General Sir Richard Shirreff predicted a war with Russia in 2017, Mr Fallon said: |
| “Well, there are a lot of people writing books and trying to sell them, and his is a very good one. However, I don't agree that war with Russia is likely next year. I think that is too extreme. | “Well, there are a lot of people writing books and trying to sell them, and his is a very good one. However, I don't agree that war with Russia is likely next year. I think that is too extreme. |
| “We have seen much greater Russian aggression this year, and in previous years, in terms of long-range aviation, in terms of submarine activity, and the carrier task group that sailed through our waters, the role of Russia in Syria, and elsewhere. But I don't think that presages an open conflict next year. | “We have seen much greater Russian aggression this year, and in previous years, in terms of long-range aviation, in terms of submarine activity, and the carrier task group that sailed through our waters, the role of Russia in Syria, and elsewhere. But I don't think that presages an open conflict next year. |
| “And I hope than General Shirreff would - and I think he does this - recognise that Nato is now responding. So, Nato is waking up to the challenge.” | “And I hope than General Shirreff would - and I think he does this - recognise that Nato is now responding. So, Nato is waking up to the challenge.” |
| He notably did not rule out conflict in the future. | He notably did not rule out conflict in the future. |
| Mr Fallon’s warning comes days after Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg warned that the alliance’s countries are not spending up to their required targets on defence. | Mr Fallon’s warning comes days after Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg warned that the alliance’s countries are not spending up to their required targets on defence. |
| Russia and Nato are holding parallel wargames in two Balkan countries, Serbia and Montenegro. | Russia and Nato are holding parallel wargames in two Balkan countries, Serbia and Montenegro. |
| The two exercises come amid rising tensions over Russia intervention in Syria, where it has been accused of war crimes. | The two exercises come amid rising tensions over Russia intervention in Syria, where it has been accused of war crimes. |
| A recent poll by the independent Levada research centre found that nearly half of Russians fear the country’s intervention there could spark World War III. | A recent poll by the independent Levada research centre found that nearly half of Russians fear the country’s intervention there could spark World War III. |