COLD THAW
BRITAIN will send 800 troops to the Arctic next year to stop Russia grabbing land as the ice caps melt.
Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said ministers were drawing up a new strategy which will see hundreds of commandos being deployed to Norway to deal with the growing threat from Russia "in our back yard".
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He said Russia had been re-opening Soviet bases not used in years, and an increased submarine activity in the area meant that Britain had to protect its own interests.
Ministers are worried that as the Arctic ice melts, Russia's President Putin will try to grab land and intensify its activity there. Climate change has also sparked a rush to tap into oil reserves there.
Mr Williamson told the party's conference in Birmingham today: "As the ice melts, new shipping routes emerge and the significance of this region increases.
"Our Poseidon aircraft submarine hunters, based in Lossiemouth, will track Russian submarines. They will keep us safe at home and assist our NATO allies."
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He added: "And we will step-up our training with our Norwegian friends, with 800 Royal Marines training each year in Norway....
"Beyond the High North and Arctic we must be ready, and must show that we are ready, to deal with threats as they emerge."
He said Russia is "increasing their military activity in the Arctic with more submarines operating increasingly under the ice" and had ambitions to build 100 facilities there.
In November Britain will deploy 3,000 troops as part of a 40,000 strong NATO training exercise there too.
Royal Navy submarine smashes through Arctic ice as world leaders unite behind Theresa May to blast 'Vladimir Putin's' nerve agent attack
Gavin Williamson to train new army of 'cyber cadets'
THOUSANDS of cyber cadets will be trained to protect Britain against cyber attacks, Gavin Williamson has announced.
2,000 young people will be trained up to fight off hack attacks in a joint project with GCHQ and the National Cyber Security Centre.
He told the party's annual conference in Birmingham the scheme would be "teaching young people skills, they need to succeed in today’s world.
"This investment in cadets is an investment in the future of our young people.
"This is an investment in all our futures."
He also wants to increase the number of cadets in schools from 43,000 to 60,000.
"We teach them new skills vital to succeeding in today’s world – where being savvy online and protecting against cyberattacks are essential," he added.
The Defence Secretary also said that one of Britain’s new cutting-edge Type 26 frigates will be called HMS Birmingham, becoming the fourth Royal Navy ship to bear that name.
And he promised to protect funding that was at risk for two vital landing ships - HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark.
Last night Sir Michael Fallon warned the Novichok poison attacks should be a “wake-up call” to the menace posed by Vladimir Putin’s regime.
He said Britain must boost military spending to combat the growing threat from Russia.
Increasing defence spending to just 2.5 per cent of national income by 2022 would give our armed forces an additional £7.7billion a year, he argued.
Sir Michael also wants a bar on Russian companies using the City of London to raise funds to underpin the Kremlin’s military machine.
Gavin Williamson left red-faced after he is ‘heckled by his own Siri’ in the House of Commons
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