New MI6 Chief Metreweli highlights “acute threat posed by Russia”

(MENAFN) The newly appointed head of MI6, Blaise Metreweli, is set to issue a strong warning about "the acute threat posed by Russia" in her first public address. She will emphasize the dangers of hybrid warfare, including cyber attacks and drone incidents reportedly linked to Russian proxies, describing it as "an acute threat posed by an aggressive, expansionist and revisionist Russia."

Metreweli will also reaffirm Britain’s commitment to maintaining pressure on President Vladimir Putin in support of Ukraine. She took over as the Secret Intelligence Service chief in October, becoming the first woman to lead the agency, succeeding her predecessor.

In her speech, she is expected to highlight recent sanctions against Russian entities accused of information warfare, as well as two China-based companies penalized for "indiscriminate cyber activities against the UK and its allies." Reports indicate that while Western sanctions have hurt Russia’s economy, they have not altered Putin’s resolve to continue the war in Ukraine.

Technology is a particular focus for Metreweli, who joined MI6 in 1999 and rose through the ranks via the Q Branch—the agency’s top-secret division responsible for developing gadgets and devices for field agents. She will urge intelligence officers to excel in technology, saying, "We must be as comfortable with lines of [computer] code as we are with human sources, as fluent in Python as we are in multiple languages."

Her point underscores the growing importance of data and technology in espionage, where traditional spy methods face challenges from biometric identification and other modern security measures.

Meanwhile, the UK’s Chief of the Defence Staff, Sir Richard Knighton, will call for a "whole of society approach" to national resilience. Speaking at a defense institute, he is expected to warn that Britain faces unprecedented danger, noting that Russia seeks to challenge, divide, and ultimately undermine NATO.

Sir Richard will argue that national defense requires more than military strength, calling on all sectors—from universities to industry, transportation, and healthcare—to contribute. "A new era for defence doesn't just mean our military and government stepping up - as we are - it means our whole nation stepping up," he will say.

Addressing a reported skills gap in defense technology, he plans to announce £50 million ($66.5 million) for new technical excellence colleges and emphasize collaboration with industry and young talent.

Observers note that similar initiatives, such as national service proposals in France, Germany, and the UK, signal a growing discussion on how nations should respond to increasingly complex global threats.

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