Defence Secretary Wes Streeting MP, keynote speech at UK Space Power Conference

I’m mindful that I’m at an RAF conference and people may have seen the news this lunchtime so I thought I would just give an update on the crash in the vicinity of RAF Valley in Anglesey this afternoon. A T2 Hawk aircraft went down shortly after take-off, both crew members ejected as you may have seen. I’m glad to say they’ve now been taken to hospital for treatment. And of course, we’re investigating how and why this happened. But for now, our best wishes go to the crew along with our hopes for a speedy recovery.

Turning to the focus of your conference today, let me start with a health warning. I’m mindful of you being talked at all day. I’m a huge Star Trek fan. And so I’ve been very much looking forward to speaking to you today. I know you’ve heard lots of speeches, but we’re near the end, so hopefully you can Klingon. Sorry, there is more.

Joking aside for now, there is no getting away from the fact that we are living in a time of enormous instability and uncertainty. Our adversaries are probing us and testing us on a daily basis. Russia is waging war in Europe. China is reshaping the economic and technological order. Old alliances can no longer be taken for granted. And the threats we face are growing and getting closer to home.

So, against this backdrop, keeping our country safe, the first duty of any government is a greater and more urgent responsibility than it has been for generations. And so my overriding priority as Defence Secretary is to make sure that we build this country’s deterrence and readiness, to be ready, willing and capable of defeating an adversary so that they think twice about attacking us in the first place. That’s not a new idea, but what it takes to maximise and maintain deterrence in the 21st century is changing, because the threats to our security are evolving.