Sir John Sawers says it would be hugely damaging if UK-EU relations collapsed
A former MI6 chief has said Brexit negotiations have got to “an extraordinarily damaging state” because unnamed Downing Street officials have been briefing that the UK might withdraw security cooperation with the EU.
Sir John Sawers, in a briefing to reporters at a technology summit, said any attempt to stop working with EU countries in tackling terrorism “would be an act contrary to our own self-interest”.
The one-time spy boss, who headed MI6, the foreign intelligence service, between 2009 and 2014, described Europe as “our defence in depth” and argued that friendly countries gained considerably from sharing intelligence on terrorism.
Initially a business lawyer, I started my career in territorial administration. After an MBA, I worked in various private groups, in the security and defence sector, mainly in Europe and the Middle East. By family tradition and also by professional experience, I am particularly passionate about military and defence matters. The evolution of European global security is one of my interests, in all its aspects: political, military, industrial, research…
