The Chief Minister has not spoken to his counterpart on the adjacent isle after the presence of a Russian survey ship off the island’s west coast.
Alf Cannan was asked if he had spoken to Sir Keir Starmer following the presence of the Russian vessel Yantar and what actions would follow.
Mr Cannan said he had not spoken to Sir Keir and that the ship was “monitored by UK defence assets as a routine procedure” and said this would likely be the same course of action of any future such events.
Following a supplementary question from Julie Edge (Onchan) about submarines and vital infrastructure off the west coast,, Mr Cannan said that was “highly classified” and jokingly added “I could tell the honourable member but then I’d probably have to, well.”
After Ms Edge sought some clarification over how the island is protected, Mr Cannan added: “I am confident from the from the discussions that I have had in Westminster with various senior politicians and indeed with the senior members of the armed forces that assets in the Irish Sea and around the coast the United Kingdom are a matter of concern for our armed forces, and proper defence assets are distributed accordingly.”
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