Key Takeaways
- Ms. Metreweli is the first woman to head Britain’s overseas spy agency, the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6)
- The UK has sanctioned Russian entities and China-based companies for conducting information warfare and cyber activities
- Western sanctions have damaged Russia’s economy, but have not changed President Putin’s determination to wage war on Ukraine
- The new spy chief, Ms. Metreweli, emphasizes the importance of technology in modern espionage, including mastering programming languages like Python
- The UK needs to be more ready to meet growing threats, with a "whole of society approach" to building national resilience
Introduction to the New Spy Chief
Ms. Metreweli, who took over as head of the Secret Intelligence Service in the autumn, is the first woman to head Britain’s overseas spy agency. She took over from Sir Richard Moore on 1 October. In her upcoming speech, she will point to the recent sanctioning of Russian entities accused of conducting information warfare, as well as two China-based companies sanctioned for their "indiscriminate cyber activities against the UK and its allies". This move highlights the UK’s efforts to counter the growing threats from Russia and China, and demonstrates the importance of the Secret Intelligence Service in protecting national security.
The Impact of Sanctions on Russia
Western sanctions have certainly damaged Russia’s economy, driving its exports eastwards towards China and India. However, they have singularly failed to change President Putin’s determination to wage war on Ukraine until it gives in to his demands for territory and ultimately, loyalty to Moscow. This suggests that sanctions alone may not be enough to deter Russia’s aggressive behavior, and that a more comprehensive approach may be needed to address the crisis in Ukraine. The UK’s decision to sanction Russian entities and China-based companies is a step in the right direction, but it remains to be seen whether this will have a significant impact on Russia’s actions.
The Importance of Technology in Modern Espionage
It is also clear from Ms. Metreweli’s speech that a special area of interest for the new spy chief is technology. Having joined MI6 in 1999, she has arrived at the top job via Q Branch, the real-life, in-house, top secret part of the Secret Intelligence Service that designs the sorts of gadgets and gizmos that enable agents to communicate with their handlers without being detected and caught. In her speech, she is expected to call on all her intelligence officers to master technology, "not just in our labs, but in the field, in our tradecraft.. 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". This emphasis on technology highlights the changing nature of espionage, where data and digital skills are becoming increasingly important.
The Need for a "Whole of Society Approach" to National Resilience
Elsewhere, the Chief of the Defence Staff, Sir Richard Knighton, will on Monday call for a "whole of society approach" to building national resilience, in the face of growing threats and uncertainty. In a speech to the Royal United Services Institute in London, Sir Richard is expected to say that defence and resilience need to be a higher priority for everyone, not just those in the military. This is the latest in a string of warnings that the UK needs to be more ready than it is now to meet a growing volume of threats. Sir Richard is expected to say that the situation is more dangerous than he has known during his entire career, and that Russia has made it clear that it wishes to challenge, limit, divide and ultimately destroy Nato.
Building National Resilience through Education and Industry
Sir Richard will also talk about the need to work with industry and young people to address the skills gap highlighted in a recent report by the Royal Academy of Engineering. He will announce £50m for new defence technical excellence colleges, which will help to develop the skills needed to build national resilience. This move recognizes the importance of education and industry in supporting national security, and highlights the need for a comprehensive approach to building resilience. By working together, the UK can develop the skills and capabilities needed to meet the growing threats from Russia and other adversaries.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the UK is facing a growing range of threats, from Russia’s aggression in Ukraine to the increasing importance of technology in modern espionage. The new spy chief, Ms. Metreweli, has emphasized the need for the Secret Intelligence Service to adapt to these changing circumstances, and to develop the skills and capabilities needed to stay ahead of adversaries. The Chief of the Defence Staff, Sir Richard Knighton, has also highlighted the need for a "whole of society approach" to building national resilience, and has announced new initiatives to support education and industry in this effort. By working together, the UK can build the resilience needed to meet the challenges of the 21st century.
