International security

Former MI6 Chief: West Has No Coherent Strategy for Relations With Russia

A former head of British intelligence agency MI6 has warned that the world is moving into an era potentially more dangerous than the Cold War.

In an interview on BBC Radio 4, Sir John Sawers argued that western powers are lacking a coherent strategy on international relations with Russia and had failed to recognize a shift in the balance of power. The warning comes at a time of heightened attention on the situation in Aleppo, where Russia is supporting Syrian regime airstrikes in the east of the city.

Sawers said: "We are moving into an era that is as dangerous, if not more dangerous, as the cold war because we do not have that focus on a strategic relationship between Moscow and Washington.

"We are not treating Russia and China as major powers that can cause us a great deal of damage. What we really need to avoid is moving down a road that leads to a direct confrontation." The former MI6 chief says that Britain's failure to bomb the Assad government in 2013 led to the vacuum that has been filled with Russia. David Cameron had sought parliamentary backing for airstrikes against the Syrian regime but was voted down by MPs.