LONDON

A Russian intelligence-gathering vessel has been monitored just outside UK territorial waters near Scotland, British Defense Secretary John Healey said Wednesday, warning Moscow that Britain “is ready” for any further escalation.

Speaking at the Prime Minister’s Office at Downing Street, Healey said: “A Russian spy ship, the Yantar, is on the edge of UK waters north of Scotland, having entered the UK's wider waters over the last few weeks."

“This is a vessel designed for gathering intelligence and mapping our undersea cables," he added.

“We deployed a Royal Navy frigate and RAF (Royal Air Force) planes to monitor and track this vessel's every move, during which the Yantar directed lasers at our pilots,” he continued.

“That Russian action is deeply dangerous, and this is the second time this year that this ship, the Yantar, has deployed to UK waters. So my message to Russia and to (President Vladimir) Putin is this: we see you, we know what you're doing, and if the Yantar travels south this week, we are ready,” he warned.

"This is the first time we've heard this action from Yantar directed against the British RAF. We take it extremely seriously,' he said.

"We have military options ready should the Yantar change course," he added, although said he would not specify those for security reasons.

Healey did say, however, that the last time the Yantar was in UK waters, the British military surfaced a nuclear-powered attack submarine close to the ship "that they did not know was there.”

'World is less predictable'

Healey used the incident to set out what he described as a rapidly worsening global security environment.

He told reporters: “Our world is changing. It is less predictable, it is more dangerous.

“And in the last year alone, we've seen the Israel-Iran war bring the Middle East close to the very brink, armed conflict break out between India and Pakistan, Chinese spies targeting our democracy at home, Putin escalate still further his war in Ukraine.

“And in just this last year, we've also seen Europe's skies plagued by drone disruptions, we've seen Russian incursions into NATO airspace double, and we've seen 90,000 cyberattacks on the UK defense system alone.”

He declared this “a new era of threat” that “demands a new era of defense, an era of hard power.”

UK wants to join EU’s SAFE initiative but not 'at any price'

Healey also said he hopes Britain and the EU can reach an agreement that would allow it to join the bloc’s new Security Action for Europe (SAFE) defense investment fund, despite the two sides reportedly being far apart on cost.

The scheme, which will offer loans to boost defense spending and production, has been the subject of weeks of discussion.

Reports suggest the EU is seeking a €6 billion (nearly $7 billion) contribution from the UK, while Britain is said to be willing to pay only a fraction of that.

Healey said: "My message to the EU is what it's always been – we want a deal ... But also clear that we’re ready to pay a contribution to the costs of running the scheme that's fair, ready to pay if there is good value for money for our taxpayers and our industry.

"And we've waited weeks within the negotiations for the chance to see the European proposals in some important areas.

"And for us, we're ready to be part of the scheme, but we're not ready to be willing at any price."

SAFE is the EU’s new €150 billion defense investment instrument, offering long-term, low-cost loans to boost defense production and joint procurement.

Its goal is to strengthen Europe’s defense industry and close critical capability gaps. Non-EU countries can participate if they meet the required conditions.