Growing irony of defence cuts

Hammond’s warning over Putin

PHILIP HAMMOND’S hardnosed speech yesterday on foreign affairs and the often unheralded work of the intelligence service was indicative of the threats to global peace that are now posed by Russia, and the territorial advantages now being made in the Middle East by the so-called Islamic State and also its acolytes in Africa.

These changes have become far more substantial since Mr Hammond succeeded Richmond MP William Hague as Foreign Secretary, and his assertion that Russia is now emerging as the “single greatest threat” to Britain’s security is the strongest condemnation yet of Vladimir Putin’s many acts of provocation.

The top Tory was equally belligerentwith his scathing condemnation of those “apologists” for Islamist terrorism who sought to blame the intelligence agencies for the radicalisation of young fanatics like Mohammed Emwazi, the Briton who has overseen the execution of Western captives in Syria. Mr Hammond is right – the responsibility for such despicable acts “rests with those who commit” such atrocities.

Yet, apart from preelection hints at new laws to assist the secret services, Mr Hammond’s stance offered little prospect of these threats being neutralised – the West is still carrying the scars of the Iraq and Afghanistan occupations.

Significantly, this speech came within hours of top American diplomat Samantha Power, the United States’ Ambassador to the United Nation, criticising the scale of the defence cuts being implemented across Europe.

She is only too aware of the irony of Mr Hammond’s current position being greatly weakened by the downgrading of Army, Navy and RAF personnel which he instigated during his tenureship of the Ministry of Defence.

They are decisions which Mr Hammond could rue if his foreboding proves prescient.