MI5’s focus on counter-terrorism has been reduced as the agency confronts rising threats from hostile states like Russia, China, and Iran, according to Ken McCallum, the agency’s director general.
In a recent interview, McCallum explained that MI5 is forced to make difficult decisions about how to allocate its limited resources. “We now face much, much more aggression from nation states,” he stated. “In effect, we had a 20- to 30-year holiday from that kind of big player, sophisticated states in serious conflict with each other. It’s back, I’m afraid.”
Balancing Resources and Priorities
McCallum highlighted that the agency’s finite resources require prioritizing threats from foreign states, such as Russia, Iran, and China, while scaling back efforts on countering terrorism. He pointed out that the challenge now lies in balancing the fight against state-sponsored threats with the need to address terrorism. “We need to invest in new technology, new skills,” he noted, emphasizing that MI5 must plan for both current and future threats.
The MI5 director general also raised concerns over the increasing scale of aggression from Russia, including sabotage and arson on UK soil. He added that the number of state-related investigations has surged by 48% in the past year. Furthermore, McCallum expressed alarm over the rising number of young people being investigated for terrorism-related activities, particularly in connection with extreme right-wing ideologies.
A Cabinet Office spokesperson confirmed that McCallum’s comments reflect previous public statements, acknowledging the ongoing challenges in prioritizing MI5’s workload.