Three British ex-army chiefs informed The Sun that currently, the UK’s army is considered „second class” and would be easily overwhelmed by Russian forces if a major conflict were to arise within the next two years.

They explained that two decades of relative peace since the Cold War era have led to a decline in military preparedness across Europe, including the UK’s armed forces. They emphasised that NATO’s readiness for a potential World War III has diminished, and the armed forces have been neglected.

As NATO commemorates its 75th anniversary, these former commanders cautioned that the threat from Russia to the military alliance has reached unprecedented levels. They warned that after the conflict in Ukraine subsides, a vindictive Putin might exploit any perceived weakness in NATO by potentially invading one of the Baltic States, resulting in catastrophic consequences.

To deter such aggression and prevent a global conflict, the UK and NATO must bolster their armed forces with increased size, modernisation, and enhanced training. They advocated for a strategy akin to Poland’s approach, which has significantly invested in its military capabilities to counter Russian threats.

Former tank commander Colonel Hamish de Bretton-Gordon stressed the urgency for the UK to catch up in terms of conventional deterrence and global warfare readiness. He highlighted the disparity between the UK’s current military capacity and its past capabilities, emphasising the need for improvement to confront evolving threats.

Retired British Army General Sir Richard Barrons echoed these concerns, underscoring the inadequacy of the UK’s military to confront a resurgent Russian force or fulfil its obligations within NATO.

They criticised the lack of government investment in the armed forces and defence industry, warning that without substantial funding, the UK’s military readiness would continue to deteriorate. They cited Defence Secretary Grant Shapps’s recent warning about the precarious international security landscape and criticised the government’s failure to allocate significant resources to defence in the Spring Budget.

Another anonymous former British Army General concurred, stressing the necessity for the UK to emulate Poland’s investment in modernising its armed forces. He cautioned that the UK’s diminishing military size renders it incapable of effectively deterring Russian aggression.

Image:  NurPhoto

Author: Sébastien Meuwissen