While counter-terrorism remains important, MI5 is now allocating more resources to counter-espionage operations against these nations. Following the Salisbury Novichok attack, Russia faced significant losses in intelligence officers and has since been attempting to recruit new assets. The U.K.’s support for Ukraine has also made it a target for espionage activities.
In addition, concerns have been raised about the unquantifiable number of Chinese agents operating in the U.K. in various sectors, including academia and business. There are fears that individuals may unknowingly be used by the Chinese state for intelligence purposes.
The recent revelations about Russia recruiting right-wing extremists for sabotage attacks in Europe and the U.K. further highlight the growing threat of espionage in the region.
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