Donald Trump re-election might threaten UK’s nationwide safety, claims ex-MI6 boss

The former head of the UK’s secret intelligence service has warned the return of Donald Trump to the White House might pose a “political threat” to Britain.

Speaking to Sky News’ Sunday Morning with Trevor Philips, Sir Richard Dearlove mentioned the re-election of the previous US president could be “problematic” for the UK’s nationwide safety as a consequence of his points with NATO.

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Mr Trump has been a long-standing critic of the alliance – made up of 29 European and two North American states – claiming different members haven’t paid their manner, and even threatening to drag out of the longstanding partnership.

But within the years since he left workplace, NATO has change into more and more necessary on the world stage amid the struggle in Ukraine, and with the present president, Joe Biden, giving it his backing.

Asked what large threats the UK must be listening to within the coming yr, Sir Richard – who ran MI6 between 1999 and 2004 – first pointed to Ukraine, then the “long-term behaviour” of China.

But, he added: “You have to add a political threat, which I am worried about, which is Trump’s re-election… which I think for the UK’s national security is problematic.

“Because if Trump, because it had been, acts swiftly and damages the Atlantic alliance, that could be a large 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.”

As the US election looms, Mr Trump stays the frontrunner because the Republican candidate – regardless of ongoing authorized instances towards him.

As a end result, considerations about his method to NATO have once more been thrust into the highlight.

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Speaking to Fox News earlier this week, Mr Trump refused to decide to remaining a member, saying it “depends on if they treat us properly”.

He accused NATO of getting “taken advantage of our country”, including: “The European countries… took advantage of us on trade and then they took advantage of us on military protection.”

French European commissioner Thierry Breton additionally claimed this week that again in 2020, Mr Trump informed the European Commission that the US would “never come help” if Europe was attacked and that NATO was “dead”.