The UK’s enemies are attempting to use the coronavirus crisis to their own advantage, the defence secretary has warned.
Giving evidence to MPs on the House of Commons Defence Select Committee, Ben Wallace also admitted that the UK’s National Security Council had not met since the epidemic began.
And he backed an international investigation into the outbreak of Covid-19, which began in China.
Download the new Independent Premium app
Sharing the full story, not just the headlines
The armed forces have been called up to help fight the global pandemic after coronavirus was declared a national emergency.
Among other roles, the army is currently helping the NHS source and deploy personal protective equipment to doctors and nurses on the front line.
Mr Wallace told MPs that there were “indications” that the UK’s enemies were trying to exploit Covid-19.
There was evidence some adversaries were trying to exaggerate UK weaknesses “in order to damage us”, he said.
Others are trying to use the situation to “further themselves”, he added, by exploiting division or economic uncertainty.
On US president Donald Trump’s threat to destroy Iranian ships harassing the US navy, Mr Wallace said: “Our adversaries and people wanting to cause mischief and threaten sea lanes, that has not stopped. People are still engaged in harassing shipping.”
He also told MPs that so far 80 members of the armed forces have tested positive for coronavirus.
