British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has described Moscow’s actions as an “increasingly reckless and dangerous” threat to the United Kingdom and Europe amid ongoing tensions with Russia. The warning came ahead of Starmer’s attendance at the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, where he is set to urge allied nations to strengthen the alliance in response to evolving security challenges.

Starmer is expected to emphasize Britain’s unwavering commitment to NATO, which his office described as “the cornerstone of our national security,” during what may be one of his final foreign engagements before stepping down and being succeeded by Andy Burnham later this month. The Prime Minister plans to advocate for a “more European NATO” that accounts for the shifting focus of the United States toward the Indo-Pacific region, while continuing robust support for Ukraine amid Russia’s ongoing military aggression.

The Russian threat cited by Starmer is underscored by recent military activities. A Russian maritime patrol aircraft made multiple “unsafe and unprofessional” approaches to the Royal Navy’s aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales last week, according to the UK Ministry of Defence. This incident reflects a broader surge in Russian military presence near NATO waters over the past two years, with a 30 percent increase in vessels perceived as threatening to UK maritime security.

NATO has reportedly scrambled fighter jets more than 700 times in two years to intercept Russian aircraft approaching allied airspace, highlighting the scale of the challenge posed by Moscow’s hybrid tactics. These tactics combine traditional military operations with cyber, information, and space-based threats aimed at destabilizing European societies, officials said.

Starmer’s appearance at the summit follows the recent release of the UK’s Defence Investment Plan, which allocated £15 billion toward military spending. While the plan has been criticized by some senior military figures for falling short of requirements, the Prime Minister’s spokesman rejected comments by the U.S. ambassador to NATO suggesting that some member states are “lagging behind” in their commitments. The spokesman reaffirmed that the UK has consistently met its NATO spending obligations and remains one of the alliance’s leading defense contributors.

In Ankara, Starmer is expected to focus on strengthening European cooperation within NATO to maintain security, stability, and prosperity amid what he described as a “new era of threat” posed by Russia’s aggressive posture on Europe’s doorstep.