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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Ben Quinn Political correspondent

Russia, China and Iran could target UK via Irish ‘backdoor’, thinktank warns

Warships from Russia's Black Sea fleet strung with flags
Russian warships. The report said the UK and Ireland were vulnerable to an ‘acute maritime menace’ from Russia. Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

Britain faces a “backdoor” threat to its security from a Russian, Chinese and Iranian presence in the Republic of Ireland, according to a report by an influential thinktank that accuses Dublin of “freeloading” when it comes to European defence.

The UK should also expand its air and naval presence in Northern Ireland, to counter a growing Russian threat on the UK’s western flank, according to the Policy Exchange report, which is backed by two former defence secretaries, Michael Fallon and George Robertson.

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