New UK defense minister calls Russian live fire drill off the UK coast “irresponsible”

PHOTO CAPTION: Illustrative file photo — A Russian service member fires from aboard a warship during naval exercises at an undisclosed location, in this still image from a video released July 30, 2024. (Russian Defense Ministry/Handout via REUTERS)

LONDON  -  Britain's new defence minister Wes Streeting on Tuesday said it was "irresponsible" for Russia to have conducted a live-fire weapons exercise off the English coast. 

"We should see yesterday's events as performative and irresponsible," Streeting told reporters when asked about the incident.  

"It's not the first time that Russia has behaved like this, and frankly, it's the tip of the iceberg of the daily threats that this country faces and our allies face." 

Earlier, a government minster confirmed that a Russian naval vessel had conducted a "brief live-fire weapons exercise" in international waters approximately 40 nautical miles south of Plymouth in southwest England. The minister said standard maritime safety procedures were followed during the drill.

 (Reporting by Sam Tabahriti; writing by Muvija M; editing by William James // REUTERS)