British spy chief speech to discuss cyberattack dangers

May 27 (UPI) -- Great Britain and its allies in the West have a "narrowing window" to stay ahead of security risks from Russia and China, the country's intelligence chief is expected to say Wednesday in a speech.

Anne Keast-Butlers, director of the Government Communications Headquarters, will give a rare public speech Wednesday saying Britain is at a "moment of consequence" as it faces brazen attacks from hostile countries. The GCHQ is Britain's intelligence, cyber and security agency.

"China is now a science and tech superpower with sophisticated capabilities across their intelligence, cyber and military agencies," Keast-Butler is planning to say.

Her office released excerpts from her speech in advance, CNBC reported.

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"The ground beneath our feet is shifting," as AI continues to develop quickly, she will say, with new technologies causing a "narrowing window for the U.K. and allies to stay ahead."

The speech will be at Bletchley Park, which was the World War II home of the GCHQ. At the time, the agency worked to break German codes.

Cybersecurity must now be "10 times more urgent," says Keast-Butler, who will recommend tightening digital security "from boardrooms to living rooms."

Keast-Butler will also accuse Russia of "scaling up its daily hybrid activity against the U.K. and Europe."

Russia is "relentlessly targeting critical infrastructure, democratic processes, supply chains and public trust," she plans to say, warning that "the risk of miscalculation is as high as I've ever seen it.

"In the face of such aggression and chaos, GCHQ is working tirelessly with intelligence and defense partners to degrade and reduce the Russian threat," Keast-Butler will say, adding that "as we remain steadfast in our support for Ukraine, [Russian President Vladimir] Putin is going backwards on the battlefield."

During the war between Russia and Ukraine, Russia has targeted Britain and its allies with sabotage and disruption campaigns, she will say. In one case, firebombs were put into DHL packages in 2024. One caught fire in Leipzig, Germany. A second blaze happened at a warehouse in Birmingham, The Guardian reported.

Her speech will mark the 80th anniversary of the UKUSA intelligence agreement, which became the Five Eyes security alliance of Britain, the United States, Australia, Canada and New Zealand.