Britain faces "most dangerous period in decades" as top general
The UK may have to make ‘different choices and different priorities’ in the face of growing threats from Russia.
That’s the warning issued by Sir Richard Knighton, the chief of defence staff.
Talking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, he said the UK is in ‘the most dangerous period’ in decades and we need to prepare for potential ‘longer conflicts’.
He cites Russia using cyber attacks, technology smuggling, reckless sabotage, and ‘assassination attempts’ to test and challenge our defenses.
Sir Richard also said the country needs to invest more in our drone capability because they’re ‘going to be increasingly important in the future of warfare’.
He said: ‘In my 35-year career, this is the most dangerous period that I have known, and as a consequence, it is important that we enhance the capability and readiness of our armed forces alongside our allies to deter our adversaries from doing something daft.
‘Over the last two decades we have been preparing for shorter wars and for conflicts that are confined and limited, what we need to ready ourselves for is potentially much greater, longer conflicts, as we’ve seen in Ukraine.’
On Monday, the Defence Secretary John Healy told MPs Prime Minister Keir Starmer was hoping to launch the UK’s long-awaited defence investment plan before the Nato summit in Turkey on July 7.
Russian drones ended up on Nato’s doorstep after a block of flats in Romania was struck in the early hours of last Friday.
It sparked calls from the country’s foreign minister to trigger Article 4 – an emergency meeting between member nations.
The incident drew widespread condemnation globally, including from Sir Keir who called the attack a ‘serious violation of Nato airspace’.
Blueprint for defence spending ‘will be a step up’
The blueprint for Britain’s defence spending will be ‘another step up’ in the amount spent on the military, Sir Keir Starmer has vowed.
The Defence Investment Plan will be published before the Nato summit in Turkey, beginning on July 7, the Prime Minister also announced.
The plan has been delayed since last year because of a stand-off within the Cabinet over costs, reporting by The Times has suggested.
The boost to defence spending is said to be worth more than £18 billion, but Chancellor Rachel Reeves and the Prime Minister are reportedly considering watering down the amount over concerns it is unaffordable.
Speaking during a visit to a defence contractor in Wiltshire, Sir Keir said the investment plan would provide the cash for the ‘capability’ outlined in last year’s Strategic Defence Review.
In a speech during the visit, the Prime Minister said: ‘That is the plan that says here’s the money that goes with the capability.
‘We bring the two together, and it is another step up, it is another increase in spending, but it is necessary, it’s the right thing to do to defend our country.’
Sir Keir later added: ‘That will now be published before the Nato summit, which is in just a few weeks’ time.’
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