The British government has issued a stark warning that the country must prepare for the possibility of an attack on its own soil, according to its newly published security strategy. The review outlines a range of threats, including Russia's military buildup and Iran's increasing attacks on dissidents abroad, which could lead to the UK becoming involved in a domestic war.
The document echoes recent comments by Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte, who stated that without a major increase in defence spending, Britons might need to learn Russian. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged to meet Nato's target of spending 5% of GDP on defence by 2035. The review notes that adversaries are laying the groundwork for future conflict, aiming to disrupt energy or supply chains and deter the UK from opposing their aggression.
In a foreword, Starmer wrote that the world has changed, citing Russian aggression, intensifying strategic competition, rising extremist ideologies, and technology transforming war and domestic security. The document was released weeks after a separate strategic defence review recommended expanding Britain's defence industry, focusing on drones, submarines, and AI capabilities.
The review identifies Russia as the principal threat, citing frequent cyber-attacks and sabotage, including threats to undersea fibreoptic cables carrying 99% of the UK's digital data. It also highlights Iran's hostile activity on British soil, part of efforts to silence critics abroad. The tone contrasts sharply with the last major security review under Boris Johnson, which focused on pandemic resilience.
Regarding China, the review refrains from labelling it a threat, describing it as a “challenge” instead. It calls for more engagement to reduce misunderstandings, despite acknowledging increased Chinese espionage and interference. This stance was undercut by Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who later told MPs that China posed a “sophisticated and persistent threat,” though Downing Street declined to repeat that language.
