Fleet Commander Highlights Importance of Royal Navy’s Role in Global Security
RUSI recently hosted Vice Admiral Andrew Burns, Fleet Commander, Royal Navy, who delivered the annual Gallipoli Memorial Lecture.
Vice Admiral Andrew Burns emphasised the Royal Navy's role in securing global trade routes, protecting critical infrastructure including undersea cables and pipelines, supporting allied operations, and contributing to international order. Vice Admiral Andrew Burns referenced the recent Strategic Defence Review and spoke about how the Royal Navy could best fulfil the review's objectives. Reflecting on current challenges, Vice Admiral Burns said:
The UK will always be reliant on the sea for the basics of our lives – security, food, energy and data – as well as our economic stability and social cohesion. As Fleet Commander, I have witnessed how the stability is under threat right now. Recent events offer stark examples of the economic and social impact of damage to undersea natural gas pipelines and telecommunications, and the loss of well-established sea trade routes.
He added:
The Royal Navy has always operated globally to protect our security and economy at home, but around our own coastline and into the North Atlantic, we are facing a silent, covert and urgent threat from an active Russia that can hold our nation at risk with land attack cruise missiles and is targeting our critical underwater pipelines, cables and cyber networks.
Vice Admiral Andrew Burns CB OBE took up his current appointment in September 2021. He previously served as Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Capability), commanded the Amphibious Task Group and was Commander United Kingdom Strike Force and Rear Admiral Surface Ships. Held since 2001, the annual Gallipoli Memorial Lecture aims to illustrate how the contribution and sacrifices of Australian and New Zealand forces more than a century ago can inspire countries today to use their military instruments to best effectiveness.
RUSI Members can watch the recording of this lecture.
