SIR Michael Fallon has mocked Vladimir Putin's "old" naval fleet and declared Britain's
new flagship will be "envy" of Russia.
A day after the HMS Queen Elizabeth set sail for the first time, the Defence Secretary
acknowledged Russians will spy on the new flagship as it undergoes trials in the North
Sea.
The 65-year-old warned Britain is in an "age of competition and confrontation", facing
"multiple and simultaneous threats".
The dangers are largely coming from "the resurgence of Russian aggression abroad...
undermining democracy wherever it can" in the form of terrorism and cyber attacks, he
continued.
But he commended the UK's naval defence, insisting the Royal Navy had "ways and means"
of protecting the warship from the Russians.
Writing in the Telegraph Sir Michael said: "It's really routine for the Russians to
collect intelligence on our ships.
"We will take every precaution to make sure that they don't get too close, but I think
they will be admiring her."
He added: "When you saw that old, dilapidated Kuznetsov sailing through the Channel, a few
months ago, I think the Russians will look at this ship with a little bit of envy."
Russia's deteriorating Kuznetsov ship is accompanied everywhere in case it breaks down,
according to reports.
A Royal Navy source told the newspaper conditions on the 55,000-ton ship are "pretty manky"
and "horrid" on the inside, although "it looks shiny on the outside".
Hailing Britain's first female Prime Minister ahead of a Centre for Policy Studies' Margaret
Thatcher Conference on Security, the cabinet minister said "we must follow the Iron Lady's
lead" when responding to Russian aggression.
He added: "First, we should once more speak up for our great values and make the case
for the West.
"Ours is the great story of democracy, freedom under the law, and free trade that banished
the oppressive nightmare for millions behind the Iron Curtain and gave millions more in
the developing world hope of a better life.
"We are attacked not because we've failed, but because of the success of our values and
beliefs that have spread across the globe and taken root far beyond the Berlin Wall.
"We shouldn't downplay what we can offer.
Like Mrs Thatcher, we too are engaged in a battle of ideas.
It's a battle we must win - making it clear, in word and deed, that our values are not
tradable."
The HMS Queen Elizabeth, the Royal Navy's biggest ever warship, made history yesterday
as she set sail for the first time.
The ship's flight deck alone is the size of three football pitches and will have a
crew of 1,000 and 40 aircraft.
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