UK Defense Minister: Russia and Putin Represent the "Greatest Threat" to Our Security

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British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace described Russia and President Vladimir Putin as the biggest threat to the country's security, warning that the United Kingdom faces a significant risk of war breaking out.

The British news agency "PA Media" reported Wallace as saying that the threat was the reason behind the decision to "approve the largest sustainable increase in defense spending since the end of the Cold War." Wallace told "The Sun on Sunday" before the Labour Party conference that starts in Liverpool today, Sunday: "Without a doubt, the biggest threat facing Britain is Russia and President Putin."

He added: "We have a war on our continent. We have a Russian president with imperial ambitions, who is constantly testing British and NATO defense capabilities and testing the strength of our alliance."

He explained: "Therefore, the alarming truth is that we face the risk of a larger war than at any time in my life."

He pointed out that he is confident that the country has what it needs to remain safe, but the situation will not remain this way if the defenses remain "static" for five years.

He continued: "Strength builds deterrence, and deterrence significantly reduces the likelihood of finding ourselves in a situation we do not want, which is war with Russia or, in fact, with any other party."