Trump's re-election could pose threat to UK national security, says former MI6 boss

A former MI6 head has warned Donald Trump's possible re-election could pose a threat to Britain's national security.

Sir Richard Dearlove said the controversial politician's return to the White House could be "problematic" for the UK. He stated that Mr Trump could damage the "Atlantic Alliance" during a talk on Sky News' Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips.

It comes after Mr Trump confirmed his intention to become the Republican frontrunner in the US presidential race which is set to take place later on this year. Sir Richard led MI6 between 1999 and 2004, he discussed the biggest threats facing the UK in 2024 on Sky News.

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He said: "From an intelligence perspective, the two things we need to worry about are, obviously, Ukraine and what China’s long-term behaviour globally is going to be, particularly in relation to Taiwan and how threatening China is to Western interests.”

Sir Richard continued: “You have to add a political threat, which I’m worried about, which is Trump’s re-election, which I think for the UK’s national security is problematic because if Trump, as it were, acts hastily and damages the Atlantic Alliance, that is a big deal for the UK.

“We’ve put all our eggs in defence terms in the Nato basket. If Trump really is serious about, as it were, changing the balance, I mean, the American nuclear umbrella for Europe is, in my view, essential to Europe’s security and defence.”