Russia's enemies were yesterday warned that the country has 'the intent and the ability' to sabotage the West's critical national infrastructure.

As he launched a new security partnership with Norway, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace made clear that Moscow had submarines and spy ships designed to attack underwater energy and communication lines.

Mr Wallace has also dropped his biggest hint to date that he wants to be the next head of Nato, saying the role due to become vacant this autumn would be 'fantastic'.

He added: 'I've always said it would be a good job. That's a job I'd like. But I'm also loving the job I do now.'

The Defence Secretary's comments on Russia came as the UK and Norway signed a partnership to counter undersea threats after last year's attack on the Nord Stream gas pipeline.

Alongside his Norwegian counterpart Bjorn Arild Gram, Mr Wallace agreed that the two nations would enhance North Atlantic security by increasing their cooperation in detecting submarines and countering mine threats. 

He said: 'What we know is the Russians have a work programme, they have a specific naval programme designed to both look at and potentially sabotage or attack critical national infrastructure belonging to its adversaries.

'It has a number of submarines and other pieces of equipment and spy ships and everything else specifically designed for that purpose.'

He added: 'Russia has the intent and the capability to target the West's critical national infrastructure. We have to have the intent and the capability to defend it.'

Britain and Norway have increased security patrols in the North Atlantic since the £16billion Nord Stream pipeline was blown up in September.

'The sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines last year is a concrete reminder of what is at stake here,' said Mr Gram during a visit to the Northwood military base in London yesterday.

He and Mr Wallace signed a statement of intent to collaborate further on protecting critical energy infrastructure from sub-sea threats.