The head of the British Army has said the UK's political leaders will soon hold a "frank conversation" with citizens about the sacrifices needed in the event of war. General Sir Roly Walker, Chief of the General Staff since June 2024, warned the public must be prepared to make sacrifices to strengthen national defence.
Speaking to around 700 soldiers at Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire, Sir Roly said the UK was entering a period of heightened international danger and suggested the armed forces could soon be needed to defend the nation. His comments come amid increasing concern about Russian aggression, pressure to increase defence spending, and calls for the public to take a more active role in national security.
Army Chief's Warning
In a speech captured by the British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS), Sir Roly said: "You didn't know this, but our nation is going to need you. There was a time that our nation didn't want to think of a time when it would need its soldiers to fight in a war. But as anyone who is studying the trajectory of world affairs and the geopolitical system within which our nation sits and thrives will realise there is extreme jeopardy in the world at the moment, and the business of soldiering is coming back into the nation's psyche."
He added: "Indeed, very soon, the political leaders of this country will start to have a frank conversation with the citizens of this country about just what is going on, and where the risk lies, and what the nation must need to be prepared to do. They need to understand what is going on in the world of defence and security, and why now appears to be a very dangerous time."
Call for Sacrifice
Sir Roly said citizens would be asked to "consent to sacrifices to prioritise defence and security." He told the soldiers: "And then they are going to ask those citizens, for whom we are not necessarily at the front of their mind, that they too need to play a part in the defence and security of this country. They need to understand what we do for them. They need to consent to allow us to do that. Which means sacrifices by them. And ultimately we are going to need them to back us, to back you to do the one thing that you do that nobody else gets to do and that is to take the fight to the enemy."
Britain does not currently operate a system of compulsory military service. Introducing conscription would require significant government and legal decisions.
Government Response
A Government spokesperson told The Independent: "The General's comments show that as the threats we face become more complex and move closer to home, our alliances and national security have never been more important. That is why we are delivering the biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War and transforming our Armed Forces to warfighting readiness. Our response must go beyond the Armed Forces alone. Government, industry and the public all have a role to play. Through the Home Defence Programme, we are strengthening the UK's resilience and preparedness, ensuring the nation is better equipped to respond to the challenges of a more dangerous and uncertain world."
The public is being asked who should be called up first in the event of World War Three, with options including 18 to 25-year-olds, people with military experience, and volunteers of any age.
