Minister warns of “malign Russian influence” across global conflict zones
UK Minister for the Middle East, Pakistan and Afghanistan Hamish Falconer has warned that Russia continues to exert “malign influence” across several regions, despite what he described as a recent reduction in its activities in Syria.
Addressing MPs, Mr Falconer said Russia’s destabilising role extended far beyond Ukraine, citing its involvement in Syria, Libya, Yemen and parts of Africa. He said Russian actions “are always at the expense of the populations where they are found”.
The minister told Parliament that the UK was working closely with international partners to assess and counter Russian activity. He said he had recently held discussions on Russian involvement in Yemen, as well as in Libya and Syria, and that the UK would “continue to act across the world” in response.
“We will not rest while Russia continues to exert such malign influence on global affairs,” he said.
Mr Falconer stressed that the UK’s dispute was with the Russian state, not the Russian people, noting that Britain had “historic and long relations” with them.
He added that many in the UK would welcome a more normal diplomatic relationship with Russia in the future, but said this would “require significant changes from the Russian state”.
