Dan Jarvis MBE MP @DanJarvisMBE has been appointed as Secretary of State for Defence @DefenceHQ.

Within hours of being announced as the nominee to be the U.S. Director of the CIA, I received a hand-delivered message on MI6 stationery congratulating me on my nomination. It was signed simply "C" in green ink. Legendary. I shared it with my son and even he thought I was now cool! More than that, this note, from Sir Alex Younger, Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service of the United Kingdom, confirmed what I already believed: the work that the CIA and MI6 did together mattered, that the partnership was critical, and that two leaders focused on the mission could save lives and provide tools for our nations to deter our adversaries. Alex's passing this week brought back so many memories of our time in service together. He flew to Langley to see me the day I was confirmed. We brought our two senior teams together in the UK to plan and coordinate and build in the first several weeks of my time on duty: making clear to them all that this relationship was more than special - it was critical for the security of our two countries. Alex was a remarkable intelligence partner. When we needed help, it wasn't "let me see;" it was "this matters to you and America we'll get it done." And he and his team always did. I think he knew we would do the same for him and his team and his nation. Many Americans are alive today because of his leadership of MI6, I never knew how to thank him enough. Alex became a friend as well. In the years since we both left office we would see each other from time to time. He was always so kind, so thoughtful, so smart. His deep love of his country was surpassed only by his deep commitment and love of his family. Decent and proper - and funny as hell - Alex was "C." As espionage requires, he was quiet, not attention seeking. He knew what evil was and he was ruthless in his efforts to crush it with every legal tool at his command. And he knew who his friends were and committed himself to supporting them. I miss Sir Alex Younger. He was a role model for me and a man with whom every minute I spent was valued and savored. Blessings to you Alex. Praying for you and for your family. Well done and may you rest in peace in His hands.

The country owes Sir Alex Younger an enormous debt of gratitude for his lifetime of dedicated service. His outstanding leadership, steadiness and integrity kept us all safe and I would like to extend our deepest sympathies to his family and his friends at this incredibly difficult time.

We will always remember Ignacio Echeverría and all the victims of the London Bridge terrorist attack. On the 9th anniversary of the tragedy, we have gathered at London Bridge to lay a wreath in their memory. Always in our hearts. 🇪🇸🇬🇧

Putin wanted to show “strength” but only confirmed his weakness. Overnight, Russia carried out one of the largest terrorist attacks on Kyiv with around 600 drones, many dozens of ballistic, air-ballistic, and cruise missiles, and a dummy IRBM. Cherkasy, Kharkiv, Kropyvnytskyi, Odesa, Poltava, Sumy, and Zhytomyr regions were also under attack. As of now, at least two civilian people have been reported killed and many dozens injured. These numbers may grow. Many residential buildings have been damaged. Unable to achieve any results on the battlefield, Putin turns to terror against civilians. This strike was probably meant to demonstrate “strength” to the domestic audience, but instead it only confirms Putin’s weakness. Even Russians see that he is a loser. His “special operation” is not achieving any results. Losses are enormous, but there is not a single achieved goal. Except that there are no safe places in Russia any more, as Ukraine ramps up its special long-range sanctions. To our allies, I want to say this: it is time to double down, not back down, in supporting Ukraine and increasing pressure on the Russian regime. We call for additional defense capabilities, including to protect our sky; investment in our defense industry; increased pressure on Russia, including entry ban for Russian combatants, full use of frozen assets; strong political decisions with regard to Ukraine’s EU accession and other steps. The world has the leverage. It needs to be used right — to show Moscow that such strikes will not bring any results — and force Russia to end this war.