The head of the United Kingdom's armed forces has delivered a sobering public warning, stating that the nation's 'sons and daughters' must be prepared for the possibility of a major war with Russia. Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS), issued the stark assessment during a speech to the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) think tank.
A More Dangerous World: The Rising Threat from Russia
Sir Richard told the audience that the global security landscape is now 'more dangerous' than at any point in his career. He emphasised a duty to be honest with the British public about the escalating risk of a direct conflict with Russia, a threat he described as clearly rising. The CDS framed this as a necessary conversation about the increasing price of maintaining peace and national security in a volatile world.
Mobilising the Nation: Beyond the Professional Military
The central theme of the warning was the need for a 'whole-of-nation' response to future defence challenges. Sir Richard stated that defending the UK can no longer be the sole responsibility of the professional armed forces. He argued that industry, national infrastructure, and civilian institutions must all be prepared for mobilisation in a crisis.
'Sons and daughters, colleagues, veterans', he said, would all have a role to play, which could include tasks 'to build, to serve, and if necessary, to fight'. This, he conceded, means that 'more families will know what sacrifice for our nation means'.
Bolstering Resilience: The Plan for Reserves and Cadets
Addressing the stark numerical disparity between forces, the CDS pointed to plans to strengthen national resilience. The British Army currently numbers just over 70,000 regular troops, while Russia boasts military ranks exceeding 1.1 million personnel. To help bridge this gap, the UK will increase the number of active reservists and cadets, creating a larger pool of trained individuals ready to support national defence.
Sir Richard's comments align with a series of similar warnings from allied leaders. They echo recent remarks by French Chief of Defence Staff Fabien Mandon, who said France must be prepared to 'lose its children' in a potential conflict, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who urged allies to prepare for a scale of conflict not seen since the time of their 'grandparents or great-grandparents'.
