The head of the British armed forces has issued a stark warning that Russia presents a direct and growing threat to the United Kingdom, stating the nation's "sons and daughters" must be prepared to fight if attacked.
A Call for National Mobilisation
In a major speech delivered at the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi) on Monday, Chief of the Defence Staff, Sir Richard Knighton, argued for a fundamental shift in Britain's approach to security. He stated the current global situation is "more dangerous than I have known during my career" and that deterrence now requires more than just a strong military.
Sir Richard called for an "all-in" mentality, where defence becomes a higher national priority for every citizen. "It means our whole nation stepping up," he declared, emphasising that universities, industry, the NHS, and the rail network all have a role to play in building national resilience.
The Scale of the Russian Challenge
The senior military leader warned that the Russian leadership has explicitly stated its desire to "challenge, limit, divide and ultimately destroy Nato." He framed the response as a societal duty, stating: "Sons and daughters. Colleagues. Veterans. …will all have a role to play. To build. To serve. And if necessary, to fight."
Echoing this grave assessment, the new head of MI6, Blaise Metreweli, used her first public speech to describe an "age of uncertainty." Speaking from the agency's Vauxhall headquarters, she labelled Russia as "aggressive, expansionist and revisionist," and warned that "the front line is everywhere" due to Moscow's use of cyber attacks, disinformation, and sabotage.
Investing in Defence and Readiness
Outlining practical steps, Sir Richard announced £50 million in funding for new defence technical excellence colleges. These will provide short courses to rapidly train new and existing defence sector staff. On the critical issue of spending, he noted the UK is facing "the prospect of the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War," bluntly adding that "the price of peace is increasing."
This warning follows similar alarms from other service chiefs. Earlier in December, the First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Gwyn Jenkins, cautioned that Britain must "step up" on defence or risk losing its advantage in the Atlantic, citing heavy Russian investment in its northern fleet and increased underwater activity near UK waters.
The government has previously committed to raising defence and security spending to 5 per cent of GDP by 2035. The urgent calls from the nation's top security officials underscore a collective view that the era of post-Cold War peace dividends is over, replaced by a pressing need for heightened vigilance and investment across the whole of society.
