Russia is a far bigger threat to Britain than Islamist terrorists, says head of Army

‘We cannot be complacent about the threat Russia poses,’ says General Mark Carleton-Smith

Russian servicemen dressed in historical uniforms take part in a military parade rehearsal at Red Square in Moscow earlier this month (AFP/Getty Images)

Russia is now a bigger threat to the security of the UK than Isis and al-Qaeda, the new head of the British army has warned.

In his first interview since becoming chief of the general staff in June, General Mark Carleton-Smith said Moscow’s willingness to use military force should not be underestimated.

“Russia today indisputably represents a far greater threat to our national security than Islamic extremist threats such as al-Qaeda and Isil,” he told The Daily Telegraph.

“Russia has demonstrated that it is prepared to use military force to secure and expand its own national interests.”

General Carleton-Smith also made clear the danger posed by Russian attempts to undermine the UK and its democratic allies using unconventional means. The British government suspects the Russia’s military intelligence unit, the GRU, is responsible for the nerve agent attack in Salisbury.

“Russia has embarked on a systematic effort to explore and exploit Western vulnerabilities, particularly in some of the non-traditional areas of cyberspace, undersea warfare,” he said.

“The Russians seek to exploit vulnerability and weakness wherever they detect it,” he added.

Two Russian intelligence officers are suspected of carrying out Salisbury attack (EPA)

The former SAS commander led the UK military’s efforts to hunt for Osama bin Laden in the years following the 9/11 terrorist attack. He also served as the head of the UK’s special forces between 2012 and 2015.

Despite spending the last two decades focused on fighting Islamist extremism, General Carleton-Smith believes the nature of national security threats has shifted.

General Carleton-Smith made clear the danger posed by Russian attempts to undermine the UK (PA)

He said the military threat posed by Isis had been successfully “diminished” in Iraq and Syria.

The general also made clear Nato would continue to vital role as a bulwark against Russia, despite recent repeated criticisms of the organisation by US president Donald Trump.

“The most important conventional military response to Russia is the continued capabilities and coherence of the Nato alliance,” he said. “I would not support any initiative that diluted the military effectiveness of Nato.

“We cannot be complacent about the threat Russia poses or leave it uncontested.”

The Army chief also talked about the challenges posed by autonomous technology, which could see robots take to the battlefield in the decades ahead.

“Robotics are the next horizon in terms of being the new arrow in the quiver,” said General Carleton-Smith.

“But fundamentally I believed you are never going to remove the visceral human aspect to it, particularly if you believe that warfare is conducted to shape a particular political condition.”