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Ministry of Defence is strengthening its intelligence operations in a key move to strengthen Britain’s defense against emerging global threats.
This strategic change has happened after the revelations of the investigation 2018 Novichok poisoning of Don SturgesWhich highlighted that foreign intelligence services are now operating “far beyond traditional espionage norms”, according to the MoD.
The report’s findings, which concluded that a Russian GRU military intelligence squad attempted to assassinate Sergei Skripal by planting a nerve agent on his Salisbury door handle, prompted the UK to impose sanctions on the entire GRU agency.
The shake-up announced Friday brings the units together Royal Navy, British Army, Royal Air ForceUK Space Command and the Permanent Joint Headquarters will accelerate information gathering from land, sea, air, space and cyberspace.
Following recommendations in the Strategic Defense Review, military intelligence services were created as enemy states intensified attacks on cyber networks, satellites and global shipping lanes and spread disinformation.
To counter hostile intelligence activity against the Defense Department, which has increased by more than 50 percent in the past year, the department is also launching a new Defense Counter-Intelligence Unit.
Defense Secretary John Healey said: “As threats grow, we are making defense intelligence smarter.
“This Government is delivering recommendations in the Strategic Defense Review, placing the UK at the forefront of military innovation.
“For intelligence, this means cutting-edge technology, clear structures and fast data flows. This gives us a clearer picture of what our adversaries might do next, so we protect our forces, protect critical infrastructure and deter changing threats.
“Our intelligence work is usually invisible but always essential. I am grateful to all our Military Intelligence Service personnel whose round-the-clock surveillance keeps Britain safe at home and strong abroad.”
Military intelligence services will operate under the command of the Cyber and Specialist Operations Command.
Its commander, General Sir Jim Hockenhall, said that intelligence operations are “always on-going” in an “increasingly complex and volatile world where threats are always evolving”.
He said: “The establishment of military intelligence services and the Defense Counter-Intelligence Unit are important steps towards strengthening the UK’s ability to anticipate threats, enabling faster and more accurate action, supporting our armed forces and protecting our citizens.”
Sir Keir Starmer said the Don Sturges inquiry showed Britain must “remain vigilant” against “reckless” Russian hostile activity on British soil.
The prime minister said last week, “Whether it’s intelligence, whether it’s operations conducted from such places, we do everything within our power… to keep our citizens safe from all threats, but especially threats coming from Russia at this time.”