There is an increasing risk of Russia attacking the United Kingdom, and the „sons and daughters” of the nation must be prepared for battle, declared the head of the British armed forces.
In an unusually direct intervention, Marshal Richard Knighton warned that the military power of Russia is on the rise. The armed forces of the United Kingdom will always be on the front line of defense alongside the rest of NATO allies, but the entire British society must also play a role in rebuilding resilience, he stated, according to Sky News.
"It is important to be honest with families in the UK about what it means to be prepared for a series of real physical threats," added the Chief of the Defence Staff.
"Sons and daughters" of the United Kingdom must be prepared
Knighton agreed with his French counterpart, General Fabien Mandon, who stated last month that France must be prepared for the possibility of losing its children in a potential war with Russia.
"The situation is more dangerous than at any time in my career, and the price of peace is increasing," said the British defence chief.
"Our response must go beyond simply strengthening our armed forces. A national-level response is needed to build our defence industrial capacity, develop the skills we need, leverage the power of the institutions we will need in times of war, and ensure and enhance the resilience of the society and the infrastructure that supports it."
"Sons and daughters. Colleagues. Veterans... all will have a role to play. Let's build. Let's serve. And, if necessary, let's fight. And more families will know what sacrifice for our nation means," added the marshal.
However, most people in the UK no longer have direct experience with the armed forces due to the peace that followed the end of the Cold War nearly 35 years ago. Knighton mentioned that December marked 65 years since the last military conscriptions and 80 years since the end of World War II.
Nevertheless, the type of national defense and resilience that was second nature to British society until the collapse of the Soviet Union must return, he emphasized.
Russian Army vs. British Army
The marshal said that although defense analysts believe there is only a "low" chance, up to 5%, of Russia launching a "significant direct attack or invasion" against the UK, this "does not mean that the chances are zero."
"My point is that none of us can say for certain what the absolute risk might be. And even though simplistic assertions might be easy for people to grasp, they risk instilling panic or complacency," Knighton said.
"What truly matters is the trend. Are the chances of conflict increasing? And here, I believe the evidence is clear that the trend, especially from Russia, is worsening, and this is the key argument for action," he continued.
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Regarding the capability of the Russian armed forces, despite being embroiled in a major war against Ukraine, he said their "power is growing rapidly."
"The Russian armed forces now number over 1.1 million, consuming over seven percent of GDP and around 40% of government spending, an amount that has more than doubled in the past decade," the British Chief of the Defence Staff pointed out.
On the other hand, the British Army has just over 70,000 soldiers, with the government committing to increase defense spending to only 2.5% of GDP, up from 2.3% by 2027.
Power of Russia, "something to fear"
"We should not delude ourselves, Russia has a massive army, increasingly sophisticated technically, and now with extensive combat experience," said the army chief.
He described how Russia is developing new weapons systems with destabilizing capabilities, such as nuclear torpedoes and nuclear-powered cruise missiles, placing nuclear weapons in space. "So, it is absolutely clear that the military power of Russia is something to fear (...)," the marshal stated.
The war in Ukraine and Russia's readiness to target neighboring states show that it "wants to confront, limit, divide, and ultimately destroy NATO," emphasized Richard Knighton, noting that this threat is not yet felt in the UK as it is in countries with physical land borders with Russia.
Highlighting the need for a faster increase in defense spending in the UK, the marshal mentioned that Germany plans to spend 3.5% of GDP on defense by 2029, while Poland has already reached 4.2%. "And we have seen in recent weeks how France and Germany are returning to a form of national military service," Knighton added.
"In reality, apart from proximity, the threat in the UK is not truly different from the threat in Germany, for example. If we are not able to raise awareness and stimulate conversation with society about risks, we cannot expect the rest of the government, society, and industry to act or bear the costs," concluded the British marshal.