Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.
The head of the UK military has emphasized that a greater number of British families will come to understand the true meaning of sacrifice as the country works to prevent a potential conflict with Russia. Sir Richard Knighton highlighted that the nation’s security cannot rely solely on the armed forces; instead, a comprehensive approach involving the whole society is essential. This strategy includes mobilizing the UK’s universities and manufacturing sectors to contribute to national defense.
Although Sir Richard considers a direct Russian attack on the UK to be unlikely, he noted during an event at the Royal United Services Institute that hybrid warfare tactics continue to escalate. He pointed to a recent incident involving a Russian spy ship believed to have been conducting surveillance near undersea cables in British waters as evidence of this growing threat. The UK faces daily cyber-attacks from Russia, and Russian operatives have attempted sabotage and even caused fatalities on British soil, he added.
Despite Russia’s military setbacks during its large-scale invasion of Ukraine, Sir Richard warned against underestimating Russia’s armed forces, which have become more technologically advanced and combat-experienced. He called for the UK to enhance its resilience against hybrid threats and avoid the outbreak of war. Achieving this requires more than just military reinforcement; it also demands leveraging the nation’s universities, energy, manufacturing, and healthcare systems such as the NHS. Additionally, increasing industrial capacity to supply both the UK and its allies with necessary equipment remains a key objective.
Sir Richard stressed the importance of attracting more young people into industries critical to defense, urging leaders to communicate the significance of these sectors and encouraging parents and schools to support careers in these fields. Responding to a skills shortage identified by the Royal Academy of Engineering, he announced a £50 million investment in new defense technical excellence colleges. With other European countries like France and Germany planning voluntary national service programs, the UK is also seeing renewed focus on national defense commitments. Since stepping into his role as chief of the defence staff in September, Sir Richard has noted that he is facing an unprecedented increase in defense spending. The government’s commitment to raising defense and security expenditure to 5% of GDP by 2035 underlines the scale of this effort. He concluded by underlining the vital role of all citizens—whether serving, building, or supporting—and the need to clearly communicate evolving threats to the public
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.