Britain's most senior military commander has issued a sobering warning that the nation's 'sons and daughters' must be prepared to fight in a potential future war with Russia.
A Stark Warning on Rising Threats
In a significant speech delivered at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) think tank, Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, the head of the UK's armed forces, stated he wanted to be honest with British families about the escalating dangers. He cautioned that more households may soon learn what 'sacrifice for our nation means'.
The Chief of the Defence Staff described the current global situation as 'more dangerous than I have known during my career', emphasising that the price of peace is rising. While he assessed the chance of a direct Russian attack on the UK as still 'remote', he stressed this 'does not mean the chances are zero' and that the likelihood is increasing, not decreasing.
The Need for a 'Whole of Nation' Mobilisation
Sir Richard argued that the UK's response must extend far beyond simply strengthening the regular armed forces. He called for a 'whole of nation response' that would be necessary if Russia turned its focus from Ukraine to the rest of Europe.
He highlighted the stark disparity in military manpower, noting the British Army's strength of just over 70,000 active personnel is dwarfed by Vladimir Putin's 1.1 million-strong forces. The solution, he said, involves mobilising society at large.
'Sons and daughters. Colleagues. Veterans... will all have a role to play. To build. To serve. And if necessary, to fight,' he told the audience. His comments contribute to a debate started by his French counterpart, General Thierry Burkhard, who recently stated France must be prepared to 'lose its children' in a potential war.
Building Future Defence Capacity
Outlining practical steps, the Air Chief Marshal confirmed that while regular forces are set to grow under existing government plans, officials are also targeting 'a major increase' in the number of active reserves and cadets.
He announced £50 million in new funding for Defence Technical Excellence Colleges, aimed at helping defence employers train vital staff. This initiative supports the government's broader commitment, announced earlier this year, to raise UK defence and security spending to 5% of GDP by 2035 at the latest.
The warning from Britain's top soldier follows recent statements from NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who said last week that Europe was 'Russia's next target' and allies should prepare for a conflict on the scale endured by previous generations.
