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Russian Embassy says UK defense secretary's statements on Russia "short-sighted"

The Russian Embassy in London said such statements "can have very real negative consequences for the relations" between the two countries

LONDON, February 11. /TASS/. The United Kingdom's aspiration to demonstrate force while promoting British interests is a flawed and short-sighted position which only further undermines UK's authority on the international arena, the Russian Embassy in London said on Monday commenting on recent statements made by UK Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson.

"We are concerned with the general militaristic tone of the defense secretary's speech. It is notewirthy that intentions to 'demonstrate force', to 'increase the lethal potential of armed forces' are not linked to tasks of ensuring Great Britain's security. This is about relying on military force when promoting British interests in the world. We are confident that such position is flawed and short-sighted, it further undermines UK's already challenged authority on the international arena as a result of military incursions in Iraq, Libya and other countries," the embassy said.

The Russian Embassy noted that "UK defense secretary's traditional aggressive attacks at Russia have nothing in common with reality." Williamson's "statements are in line with the position of the current conservative government toward Russia, and his position is not an exception here. Of course, it is convenient to scare the society with the so-called Russian threat, disracting them from relevant internal and external problems that the UK faces today. Moreover, the British minister is pursuing a specific goal by making such statements - by painting our country as an 'aggressor', he consistently pushes for increasing UK government spending on the military-industrial complex," the embassy added.

The embassy noted that "painting Russia as hostile is artificial, but it can have very real negative consequences for the relations" between the two countries.