The United Kingdom is „rapidly developing” plans to prepare the entire country for a possible war, announced Defense Secretary Al Carns.
He warned of a „shadow of war” at Europe’s door, stating that hostile intelligence activity against the UK has increased by over 50% in the past year, as reported by Sky News.
Emphasizing the role civilians should play in a major conflict, Al Carns said that the military, navy, and air forces respond to crises, but "societies, industries, and economies win wars."
"The shadow of war is once again knocking on Europe's door. This is the reality. We must be prepared to deter it," stated Al Carns.
His comments came after Mark Rutte, NATO chief, warned that Europe must prepare for a war similar to those of our grandparents' time, referring to the First and Second World Wars, and rapidly increase defense spending.
The UK revealed on Friday that hostile intelligence activity, such as espionage, hacking, and physical threats against its armed forces and Ministry of Defense, has increased by over 50% in the past year. Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea are the main suspects.
The government is launching a new counterintelligence unit for defense to strengthen its ability to detect and disrupt hostile intelligence operations.
Additionally, measures have been taken to enhance the Defense Ministry's espionage capabilities by combining various branches of military intelligence from the army, navy, and air forces, as well as defense intelligence services, into a new organization called the Military Intelligence Service.
"We must act as quickly as we can"
Al Carns, a former special forces colonel, visited RAF Wyton, a top-secret military spy base in Cambridgeshire, to announce organizational changes.
However, improving the readiness of professional armed forces is just one part of preparing any country for a potential conflict.
As France warns its citizens that they may have to lose their children in a war with Russia, Sky News asked Carns if he believes more efforts are needed to inform the British about the sacrifices they may have to make in a war.
"There are now a lot of efforts underway between the Ministry of Defense, the Government, and society as a whole to explain what conflict means and what everyone's role in society would be if we entered into a war.
It's not just about deploying the army, but about protecting every inch of our own territory. This work is currently ongoing, developing rapidly. We must act as quickly as we can," he said.
The United Kingdom had a comprehensive plan for transitioning from peace to war. Developed over decades, the Government's War Manual contained instructions for every part of society, from the military and police to schools, hospitals, and even art galleries.
However, it was shelved after the end of the Cold War. Carns' comments suggest that a modern version of the plan could make a comeback.
The Minister stated that many people in the UK do not see, hear, or feel the dangers, even as Russia's war in Ukraine wreaks havoc, affecting fuel costs.
"We need to bring this to people's minds to ensure they understand, not to scare them, but to be realistic and understand where these threats come from and why defense and a whole-of-society approach are so important," he said.