The former head of MI6 formerly known as the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) has warned that Donald Trump’s re-election could be “problematic” for the UK’s “national security.”
Sir Richard Dearlove warned that Trump’s return to the White House later this year could be a threat to the UK should he damage “the Atlantic Alliance.”
Sir Richard was the head of SIS between 1999 and 2004 and told the Sky News programme Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips the threats Britain needs to keep an eye on this year.
The former spy chief told Sky News, “From an intelligence perspective, the two things we need to worry about are, obviously, Ukraine and what China’s long-term behaviour globally is going to be, particularly in relation to Taiwan and how threatening China is to Western interests.”
Sir Richard added, “You have to add a political threat, which I’m worried about, which is Trump’s re-election, which I think for the UK’s national security is problematic because if Trump, as it were, acts hastily and damages the Atlantic Alliance, that is a big deal for the UK.
“We’ve put all our eggs in defence terms in the NATO basket.
“If Trump really is serious about, as it were, changing the balance, I mean, the American nuclear umbrella for Europe is, in my view, essential to Europe’s security and defence.”
