UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham used his first speech to the UN General Assembly to declare that "Britain is back," announcing a new National Centre for Information Defence and a new AI defence partnership with the United States.
Speaking in New York on 22 September 2026, Burnham said the decade since Brexit had given Britain a unique perspective, and that his government would restore stability and build a more dynamic economy. He said the country must rebalance power, fight division and instability, help people with the cost of living, and embrace the potential of technology.
On national security, Burnham said the UK would keep investing in defence, meet its NATO commitments and strengthen European capabilities, while not playing "Russia's game of trading escalatory rhetoric." He said: "Unlike Russia, we do not seek confrontation. Instead, we will be prepared, but not panicked."
Burnham said hostile actors had carried out an "industrial-scale assault" on the information environment, accusing Russian agencies of spreading disinformation, forging the branding of 28 British organisations including universities and the BBC, amplifying far-right narratives, and attempting to interfere in the 2019 General Election. He said the Kremlin spends around £1.3 billion each year on manipulating information.
"Today I am tasking our security chiefs to begin work on a new National Centre for Information Defence – to detect, attribute and disrupt these kinds of hostile state information attacks. To support and defend our democracy," he said. He added that the UK would share its experience with other countries, having already supported Moldova in protecting its elections from Russian interference.
Burnham also announced that the UK is developing a new AI defence partnership with the US to protect critical national infrastructure, and that AI will be put at the heart of the UK's G20 Presidency next year. He said the aim would be "agreeing a single set of global principles and standards" on AI, and that he would bring forward new laws if needed to protect the British people.
On Ukraine, Burnham said the UK would support the country in protecting its skies and civilians and in repairing and protecting heat and power plants ahead of winter. He said the Graham Bill signed by President Trump last week "will make a huge difference" to raising the cost for Russia, and urged Russia to accept a ceasefire and come to the negotiating table.
Burnham also said he had acted on the Middle East, citing bans on trade in goods with illegal settlements, recognition that the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory is unlawful, and sanctions on those taking part in the construction of illegal settlements. He said the E1 mega settlement "cannot be allowed to happen," and that the UK wants to see "Israeli and Palestinian people living side by side in peace and security."
Concluding, he said: "Count on us to meet fear and division with unity and hope."