Wild-eyed panic about an imagined coming war with Russia is accelerating across the countries of Global NATO. And not coincidentally, the UK appears to be a central dissemination point. Take the case of a Dec. 9 article in London’s Financial Times, which starts by referencing the alleged 2024 plot to plant bombs in DHL planes in the UK, Poland, and Germany—which was conveniently traced back to “Russian-directed saboteurs.” This incident was only intended to be the “first step,” it claims, for “the next stage of the plan: to attack flights to the US, and cause more disruption to the airline industry than any act of terror since the World Trade Center attacks.”
The article paints the picture: There have been train derailments, shopping centers burned down, destroyed dams, and even poisoned water supplies, “And these are just the ones we know about.” Keir Giles, a Russia expert at Britain’s Chatham House, told the FT, “The first important thing to consider is that we still don’t really appreciate everything which is going on. What is publicly understood about this is just the tip [of an iceberg] … there’s still a lot that governments have chosen not to talk about.” The FT goes on to say that last year these events were still being characterized as a nuisance of “pin pricks,” but that now they are being interpreted as a far more serious threat. “Intelligence hawks” now consider that there is “a strategic escalation taking place, and not just tactical opportunism,” it claims.
The authors reference the recent comments by the chair of NATO’s military committee, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, who said NATO is now considering pre-emptive strikes against Russia. Again quoting Giles, the article fully embraces Dragone’s outlook, saying that Russia’s alleged attacks amount to a “test of Europe’s mettle”—if NATO countries don’t fight back, “then Russia will just continue to do more of the same…. It’s nonsensical to call this anything other than what it is—warfare against Europe.”
In the same vein, Chief of Britain’s Defence Staff, Sir Richard Knighton, said on Dec. 15 that “more people [are] ready to fight for their country” in an expected aggression by Russia, reported BBC. “The situation is more dangerous than I have ever known in my career,” Knighton stated. He was speaking at the Annual Defence Lecture hosted by Britain’s Royal United Services Institute.
According to Knighton, there is a growing risk of a Russian attack on the UK, and a “whole-of-nation response” is required, including strengthening the military and related industrial capacity. “Sons and daughters. Colleagues. Veterans… everyone will have their role to play.” Knighton said that leaders from across society, including teachers and parents, should “encourage children and young adults to take up careers in the [defense] industry.”
