Cooper says Russia becoming more reckless as it weakens

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has warned that Russia is becoming more reckless and dangerous as its military performance in Ukraine weakens, speaking after a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Helsingborg.

Cooper said the post-Cold War peace dividend was over. “Any lingering cosy assumptions about our defence and security are gone. So too is the post-Cold War peace dividend. That’s why we need to keep increasing our defence and security capabilities and maintain our support for Ukraine.”

She described a broadening threat picture from Moscow. “Russia is now under huge pressure from Ukraine’s military response and from economic challenges but that is making them more unpredictable with escalating attacks on Ukrainian civilians, increasing hybrid threats across the continent, and reports of drone incursions. The threat from Russia is increasing on air, land, sea, space, cyber and information warfare.”

Russian jet dangerously close to British military aircraft

Cooper’s remarks came days after the Ministry of Defence confirmed that two Russian jets had intercepted an unarmed RAF Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft over the Black Sea, in what the MoD described as the most dangerous Russian action against a UK Rivet Joint since 2022. A Russian Su-35 flew close enough to the British aircraft to trigger its emergency systems, including disabling the autopilot, while a Su-27 made six passes in front of the aircraft, closing to within six metres of its nose.

Cooper said NATO remained the most successful defensive alliance in history but that its continued development was essential. “NATO is the most successful defensive alliance in history and now we need to keep building a stronger Europe within NATO. The safety, stability and prosperity of our citizens depends upon it.”