Britain's defence secretary Wes Streeting has warned that the country must prepare for attacks on everyday infrastructure by hostile states, framing the threat as "state-sponsored terrorism" that could target critical systems.
Speaking on Thursday while opening a tank gun barrel factory in the West Midlands, Streeting said the public should consider how to respond to hybrid warfare risks. He cited cyber-attacks that could disable payment systems used by businesses or disrupt supply chains as concrete examples of the threat.
Streeting also grouped natural emergencies into the national conversation about resilience, naming flooding and wildfires as risks the public should prepare for.
The defence secretary's comments position infrastructure vulnerability as a matter requiring public awareness and preparedness, not just military or security agency planning. His framing connects military-style threats from hostile powers with civilian resilience planning in a single national discussion.