World stands on brink of perilous nuclear escalation, warns British premier

By Aysu Bicer

LONDON (AA) - Warning about the escalating global threats, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Monday said the world stands on the brink of a perilous nuclear escalation, echoing the tense days of the Cuban missile crisis.

Against a backdrop of mounting tensions involving Russia, Iran, North Korea, and China, Sunak emphasized the urgent need for robust defense measures to safeguard against destabilizing actions from hostile states.

Sunak pointed the finger at Russia's President Vladimir Putin, attributing his "recklessness" to bringing the world closer to a nuclear standoff than any time since the Cuban missile crisis of 1962.

The historical confrontation between the US and the Soviet Union saw the world holding its breath for 13 tense days, as both superpowers teetered on the brink of nuclear war over the placement of missiles.

"These are not faraway problems," Sunak underscored, referring to recent actions such as cyberattacks from China targeting UK lawmakers and Russian-linked poisonings on British soil.

Sunak also rebutted Labour's narrative, vehemently rejecting the notion that 14 years of Conservative governance are exclusively to blame for Britain's current challenges.

"It’s just not true. In the last 14 years, we’ve made progress in the most difficult conditions any governments have faced since the Second World War," he said.

He also rejected that the Tories have underfunded defense, claiming when they took over the office, Labour had left the country with no money.

He also asserted that the Tories have consistently maintained defense spending at 2% of GDP, by NATO standards.

Labour has proposed a gradual increase in defense expenditure to 2.5% of GDP, "when resources allow."

Sunak also reaffirmed the Conservative Party's commitment to safeguarding the UK against illegal migration.

He highlighted the government's controversial measures, including the implementation of the Rwanda scheme, aimed at swiftly detecting and removing illegal migrants.

With a stern tone, he criticized the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), labeling it as outdated and warning of potential "flash points ahead" concerning the UK's security.

He emphasized that if forced to choose between the ECHR and the security of the nation, he would unequivocally prioritize the latter.