Latest news with #Radakin
Times
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Times
UK forces chief praised ‘responsible' China on Beijing visit
The head of the armed forces sought to build ties with Beijing and drive a wedge between it and Moscow in a speech the British government did not want public. Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, the chief of the defence staff, told future Chinese military officers that the UK 'respects China', which was a 'responsible nuclear power' like Britain. By contrast he accused President Putin of engaging in 'irresponsible nuclear rhetoric', which he said was a 'concern for the whole world', in particular the UK and China. 'This [Ukraine war] is more than struggle over borders on a map. It is a challenge to global order. The chaos and instability unleashed by Russia is being felt by countries near and far,' he told the People's Liberation Army National Defence University in Beijing. The Times revealed in April that Radakin had travelled to China in the first visit by a head of the British armed forces in a decade. Government officials had hoped to keep the visit hidden from the public, it is understood. The trip coincided with the escalation of a trade war between the US and China. The secrecy enabled China to dominate the narrative. Its defence ministry said the two sides had discussed 'co-operation with the two militaries'. The Ministry of Defence and the Chinese embassy in London declined to provide a copy of Radakin's speech but it was released after a freedom of information request. Radakin later said he visited China to ensure that lines of communication existed between the two militaries, should there be a need to deal with an escalation of tensions and prevent miscalculation. It is understood he regrets the fact that communication with Valery Gerasimov, his Russian counterpart, has been lost. Gerasimov had not returned Radakin's requests for a call since the Ukraine invasion, a military source said. • Britain faces decades of security threats, says military chief Radakin told his Chinese audience that the UK sought a 'constructive relationship, and an open dialogue between us' and at the same time would ensure its national interests were protected. 'The more we talk, the more we will find our common interests and approaches to transnational challenges,' he said. He also appeared to pave the way for the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales or, more likely, one of its escort ships to sail through the contentious Taiwan Strait this year. The carrier strike group is on its way to the Indo-Pacific region. Radakin said the principles of navigation and law of the sea mattered, and this was why British naval vessels 'regularly exercise right of freedom of navigation in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea'. He added: 'I am glad to say most of these exercises happen without incident. Our interactions with Chinese forces are normally safe and professional.' China claims self-governed Taiwan as part of its territory and the US believes Beijing is preparing for a full-scale invasion of the island. • China accuses Hegseth of 'Cold War mentality' after Taiwan warning Radakin also made some pointed remarks about China's one-party dictatorship, saying that after the death of Queen Elizabeth and numerous changes in government in Westminster, 'the wheels of government continued to turn'. He added: 'There was no panic. No civil unrest. The outgoing prime minister stood outside Downing Street to wish their successor the best. Our uncodified constitution balances continuity and change with great effect.' China has ramped up its activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan in recent months. In a display of Beijing's growing military reach, two Chinese aircraft carriers were spotted operating in separate areas in the Pacific on Saturday, both near remote southern islands belonging to Japan.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
UK-Russia military hotline breakdown since Ukraine war weighs heavy on top British Admiral
UK-Russia military hotline breakdown raises strategic alarm UK Chief of Defence Staff Admiral Tony Radakin told the House of Commons Defence Committee he regrets the breakdown of direct military communications with Russia, specifically referencing the loss of a previously active hotline with Russian Chief of the General Staff General Valery Gerasimov. 'I used to have calls with General Gerasimov,' Radakin said during the June 10 session. He noted that he and then-Defence Secretary Ben Wallace had spoken with Gerasimov around February 11, 2022, just days before Russia launched its 'special military operation' in Ukraine. The communication occurred through a dedicated military hotline between the UK Ministry of Defence and the Russian General Staff's Situation Centre. According to defense officials, the hotline had been tested daily for functionality and reserved for urgent crisis communication. Despite escalating tensions with Russia, the UK has maintained strong ties with Ukraine, with UK Defence Chief Admiral Sir Tony Radakin meeting his Ukrainian and French counterparts in Kyiv in April, 2025 to discuss the structure and size of an international "reassurance force" to support any future peace deal. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like New Container Houses Indonesia (Prices May Surprise You) Container House | Search ads Search Now Also read: NATO chief calls for 'quantum leap' in defence and says Russia could attack in 5 years That channel was effectively discontinued after the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. No further call logs or tests have been reported since, suggesting that the mil-to-mil link between the UK and Russia was severed. Live Events 'In a dangerous world, not having those mil-to-mil communications - that's a regret,' Radakin said. Hotline served as strategic de-escalation tool before breakdown The UK-Russia hotline was not just symbolic. It served as a crucial crisis-management tool during escalating tensions between the two nuclear powers. The daily-tested line ensured that high-level commanders could resolve potential misunderstandings quickly. In addition to the February 2022 contact, the channel was reportedly used again in October 2022, when Radakin and Gerasimov spoke following Russia's public allegations that Ukraine was preparing to use a 'dirty bomb.' That exchange was part of broader efforts to clarify intent and prevent dangerous misinterpretations. Officials on both sides acknowledged the importance of such conversations in avoiding miscalculation. Also read: From 10,000 to 1,00,000 drones: UK increases drone deliveries to Ukraine days after Operation Spider's Web Despite this interaction, no sustained military dialogue resumed after 2022. With the hotline's eventual collapse, the UK lost the capacity to initiate direct communication with Russia's military command during periods of heightened risk. Loss of UK-Russia military communication raises escalation risks Admiral Radakin's concern reflects broader NATO anxieties about losing critical 'deconfliction' tools amid ongoing global instability. With no direct UK–Russia military channel in place, misunderstandings during operations near Eastern Europe, the Black Sea, or NATO airspace could escalate quickly. 'Not having those mil-to-mil communications' has become more consequential as both sides engage in active and indirect conflicts worldwide. Although some diplomatic channels remain open, military-to-military discussions, especially for crisis prevention, are not currently functional. Also read: Six Chilling Ways Putin's Russia Could Destroy the UK Within Hours: British Government Warns As global tensions rise and armed conflict continues in Ukraine, the breakdown of this once-active military hotline underscores the growing strategic risk. For now, Radakin and other UK officials must rely on NATO or multilateral frameworks for any engagement with Russia's armed forces.
Hindustan Times
01-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
After Hegseth, UK Defence Chief Shames China While Sitting Next To Chinese Officer On Asian Soil
UK Chief of the Defence Staff, Admiral Antony Radakin, denied the possibility of deploying a British aircraft carrier to Ukraine. Speaking at the annual IISS Asia Security Summit: The Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Radakin said, "We have no plans to use our aircraft carrier in the Russia-Ukraine context. And I don't think that we have any expectation that Russia, Ukraine is going to suddenly erupt into something that is pressing us with our aircraft carrier." The announcement comes days after Russia proposed a second round of peace talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on June 2. Watch this video for more.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Still ruling the waves: our navy must not cower to China
There is only one reason why China's supremely cynical and manipulative rulers will have received Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, the Chief of the Defence Staff, in Beijing this week. Britain is about to dispatch HMS Prince of Wales, the Royal Navy's newest aircraft carrier, on a 10,000-mile voyage to the Far East, sailing with an escort of frigates and destroyers all the way to Japan and back. China will have told Admiral Radakin that our Carrier Strike Group must steer clear of the disputed islands in the South China Sea, which President Xi Jinping has studded with military outposts. Above all, Admiral Radakin will have been warned to keep our ships out of the Taiwan Strait, where China's armed forces routinely rehearse the invasion of that democratic island. We are entitled to assume that Admiral Radakin will have replied that the Royal Navy is free to sail wherever the law of the sea allows. But this Government is quietly restoring the old 'golden era' of relations with China that so discredited David Cameron and George Osborne. British ministers are visiting Beijing in steady procession, seeking trade and investment. They will be sorely tempted to draw a route for the Carrier Strike Group that bows to China's sensitivities. But surrendering to intimidation merely invites more of the same. China should be told that HMS Prince of Wales will sail by whichever course makes the most operational sense and no country has any right to dictate otherwise. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
The Times: UK defused Ukraine-US tensions after changes to counteroffensive plans in 2023
The Times has reported that the UK played a key role in restoring dialogue between Kyiv and Washington after Ukraine changed its agreed-upon counteroffensive plans in 2023. Source: European Pravda, citing an article by The Times Details: The Times sources described the depth of UK officials' involvement in planning Ukraine's counteroffensive in 2023 and in relations with the then-US military leadership. According to the article, Ukraine's counteroffensive, initially set for March, was postponed due to expectations of additional weapon supplies from its allies, a delay that allowed Russia to fortify its positions. "Ukraine kept waiting until they would have all the kit, we kept saying you need to just go, Russia is not strong. You need to challenge them, you've got enough kit," a British military source told The Times. Another issue was that, instead of concentrating forces on a single front in the south, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, following advice from then-Ukrainian Ground Forces Commander General Oleksandr Syrskyi, authorised the redeployment of troops to the east. The Times notes that Washington was "impatient" and expected a quick result on the south front. It was at this point, when the counteroffensive had not been successful, that "relations between the Ukrainians and Americans hit rock bottom," the article says. During this period, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, Chief of the UK Defence Staff, cut short his holiday and travelled to Kyiv to address the situation. He held a secret meeting with Valerii Zaluzhnyi, the then Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and conducted a video call with his American counterparts, as reported by The Times. Lieutenant General Sir Roly Walker also played a role in facilitating communications between the Americans and Ukrainians. As a result, in August, Radakin, Zaluzhnyi and General Christopher Cavoli, Commander of US Army Europe and Africa, met in person at the Polish-Ukrainian border. During a five-hour discussion, they focused on the plans of the Ukrainian forces for the winter and the following year. "It was a sign that the Americans were not going anywhere soon," The Times writes. The article also highlights that the UK granted its military slightly more freedom of action than the US, allowing them to plan visits to Ukraine. One notable example cited is when Radakin visited Kyiv in civilian clothes to avoid drawing attention. Background: Last month, The New York Times posted a major article stating that Washington viewed Ukraine's operation in Russia's Kursk Oblast as a breach of trust. However, the US did not halt its support, recognising the need to prevent the deaths of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers already within Russia. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
