Britain and its NATO allies face direct challenge from Putin ‘within months’ to test Burnham and probe for cracks in the alliance while Trump distracted with Iran, intelligence insiders warn
Britain and its NATO allies face a direct challenge from Vladimir Putin “within months” to test Andy Burnham’s new government and Donald Trump’s focus on Iran, UK intelligence sources have warned.
They say Putin will seek to take advantage of any differences in Britain’s decisions as Mr Burnham has been appointed to replace Sir Keir Starmer as Prime Minister.
The Mail on Sunday also reveals that Moscow is trying to expand Britain’s resources by diverting from the Channel the shadow fleet of oil tankers stopped in the Channel by Royal Marine Commandos last month.
Ships carrying millions of barrels of oil in defiance of Western sanctions are instead reaching the Atlantic via the seas north of the Shetland Islands.
Even as Mr Burnham was taking over as Prime Minister last Monday, a Russian frigate caused alarm by conducting a live-fire artillery exercise just 45 miles south of Plymouth.
But now UK intelligence sources are warning of even greater provocations from Moscow.
An intelligence source said: ‘There is a strong belief that Putin is preparing for some form of direct conflict with NATO in the next few months.
‘A number of factors play a role in this; ‘The belief that Trump is distracted by Iran and signs of division among the Ukrainian leadership.’
Britain and its NATO allies will face a direct challenge from Vladimir Putin ‘within months’ to test Andy Burnham’s new government, UK intelligence sources have warned
The warnings come as Iran threatens to strike British bases it sees as ‘legitimate targets’ to allow US bombers to operate from them. Pictured: RAF Fairford
HMS Iron Duke dwarfs RFN Neustrashimy and cargo ship Sparta (file image)
The source stated that Putin’s disappointment with the course of the war in Ukraine was also a factor, saying: ‘If there is such a feeling that [Putin] ‘Unless you can somehow shift the momentum on the battlefield, the war will be lost.’
But he added that the change of government in Britain would also lead the Russian President to ‘want to try and test Burnham and see if he can exploit the differences between the old and new administrations’.
The warnings come as Iran threatens to strike British bases it sees as ‘legitimate targets’ to allow US bombers to operate in the escalating conflict with Tehran.
The UK allowed the US to use bases such as RAF Fairford, but on the grounds that the operations were for ‘defensive purposes’ only.
But this newspaper is aware that Iran’s threats are so serious that British secret intelligence services have mobilized a major covert operation to counter any attack on RAF Fairford.
Concerns also remain that despite the improvement plans, the UK is still highly vulnerable to ballistic missile attacks and is within range of some Iranian missiles.
Tim Ripley of the Defense Eye website said: ‘America’s top commander in the Middle East, Admiral Brad Cooper, has confirmed that the Iranians have some type of missile with the range to hit London.’
It was also revealed that the new Defense Minister Wes Streeting spoke with his US counterpart Pete Hegseth on Friday about the situation in the Strait of Hormuz and defense investments.
And yesterday the Ministry of Defense insisted the UK was ‘ready 24/7’ to defend itself against air and missile threats.
And last night, new Defense Secretary Wes Streeting reacted defiantly to any possible action by Moscow.
He said: ‘Russia should have no doubts about the determination of this Government and the Prime Minister to stand up to Russian aggression, not only against Ukraine but also against any attack on the United Kingdom and our allies.
‘Just this week we have invested over £700 million in our advanced fighter jet program and other technologies; ‘This demonstrated our commitment to deterrence while supporting innovation, jobs and growth across the UK.’
