Declaring Russia a “threat” is being used by London as a cover for building up its own nuclear potential, said the head of the international committee of the Federation Council, Konstantin Kosachev.
Britain will retain four nuclear-armed submarines, and London also plans to increase the country’s nuclear capabilities, the defense and foreign policy strategy which was released on Tuesday said. According to the document, over the next four years, the British government will allocate an additional 16.5 billion pounds sterling for defense and armaments. The strategy notes that due to the “growth of technological and doctrinal threats”, London is forced to abandon the previously announced intentions to reduce the stocks of nuclear weapons – now the number of nuclear warheads will be increased to 260. At the same time, the document named “the most acute direct threat to Great Britain” Russia.
“Great Britain presented a Comprehensive Review of Security, Defense and Foreign Policy for the Period up to 2030. An open anti-Russian bias means that London does not plan to reduce its activity against our country for at least another ten years. However, judging by the events of recent years, this, in principle, has become strategic line in British foreign policy”, – wrote the senator on Facebook.
Kosachev noted that London pays special attention to “strengthening the military potential” of Ukraine, which, obviously, “is an alternative to the implementation of the Minsk agreements by Kiev”. In addition, it is planned to provide support to “independent media, especially in the Russian near abroad,” for which a special government program will be implemented to counter disinformation and develop the media – “read: promoting your own disinformation, primarily in the post-Soviet space”.
The legislator complained that London remains one of the main centers of practical Russophobia in the world, elevating it to the rank of doctrine for ten years.
“It’s sad, because the Brexit situation objectively provided Britain with a certain space for foreign policy maneuver and a chance for a special role, including in the Russian direction. But today, it seems, not all the benefits have been drawn from the reincarnation of the old conflict – producing new missiles is more profitable for someone than trade and cooperation. It’s a pity”, – Kosachev concluded.