big ben
© EPA/ FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA
Rusland er blevet listet som en potentiel trussel til Storbritanniens sikkerhed, på fod med IS, ifølge et foreløbigt review af landets Nationale Sikkerheds Strategi, hvilket markerer et åbenlyst paradoks: to af Storbritanniens større trusler kæmper for tiden imod hinanden, hvilket blot får en til at stille spørgsmålet: Hvilken af truslerne af den mest virkelige?

Den nye liste af potentielle trusler, en nøgledel af regeringens næste Nationale Sikkerheds Strategi, var sat sammen af den britiske regering som følge af et større sikkerheds review.

Det er planlagt at blive annonceret af David Cameron den 23. november.


Kommentar: Denne artikel er delvis oversat til dansk af sott.net fra:
Paradox: Mush-for-brains Britain puts Russia on par with ISIL as security threat


Billede
Russia was put on the list due to the Ukrainian crisis, with uncertainty surrounding the cause of the Metrojet plane crash having increased concerns, according to British media reports.

"The last five years have seen a range of international developments, ranging from the growth of radicalization and fundamentalism, to growing concerns around our energy supply, and rising aggression from Russia," the summary of the upcoming National Security Strategy report reads.

"Russia's actions in Ukraine have introduced question marks over the role and future of NATO operations in neighboring countries and re-awakened the threat posed by Russia to states in Eastern Europe and the Baltic, some of which are NATO and/or EU member states," reads the Russia section of the manual.
"Russia's increasing isolation in international politics (for example, the G8 met last year as the G7, excluding President Putin from the table), increased military spending and apparent willingness to display force in the face of universal condemnation suggest the next five years could well see an escalation of the Russian threat to the security of Western Europe."
Unsurprisingly, the threat of international terrorism stemming from ISIL and Al-Qaeda tops the list.
"The interactions between the two organizations, and their encouragement of others to follow in their paths, have renewed and deepened the challenge across the Middle East and Africa."
Given the Russian military's campaign in Syria against the Islamic State militants, the inclusion of Russia on the UK security threat list creates a paradox: two of Britain's major threats are battling each other.

This raises the logical question which of these threats is actually the real one?

Other issues on the list:

Radicalization and Religion
"Concerns about radicalization have risen worldwide since 2010, and the UK threat level is currently at Severe as a result of domestic threats from UK Jihadists returning from Syria, Iraq and other troubled areas. The growth of worldwide radicalization has had an impact on UK public confidence, and created new security risks."
Religious fundamentalism and intolerance across religions
"...in particular Islamic separatists and fundamentalists are now seen a serious threat in destabilized parts of the world".

"...questions continue to be raised about how well religious [sentiments], the reasons for its growth, and its links to violent extremism are understood."
Instability in the Arab world
"In December 2010, the so-called Arab Spring began as a series of popular uprisings against authoritarian regimes, but generated political upheaval, civil disorder, and conflict across North Africa and the Middle East. Successful and unsuccessful protests and uprisings made unprecedented use of social media to organize and encourage support."
Among other listed threats are the volatile situation in Ukraine; China's "authoritarianism and persistent human rights abuses on the part of the Chinese Government"; cybersecurity and organized crime; climate change; "increasing levels of forced population movement and migration, stemming from a variety of causes including conflict, economic instability and the impact of a changing climate"; Energy infrastructure; Economic shifts and stagnation within the Eurozone.