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The UK’s top military official, Sir Richard Knighton, has expressed concerns that the country is not fully prepared for a large-scale conflict. During his appearance before the parliamentary Defence Committee, he acknowledged shortcomings in the nation’s readiness but declined to comment on reports highlighting a significant shortfall in defence funding. These reports indicate that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) may require an additional £28 billion over the next four years to meet its financial obligations, causing a revision of the government’s defence investment strategy.
The anticipated Defence Investment Plan, originally scheduled for release in autumn last year, has yet to be published. Sir Richard stated that although no exact timeline for its publication could be provided, the MoD is “working flat out” to finalize the document. The plan will outline how the UK intends to allocate resources for new military equipment and infrastructure, and specify priorities for defence spending going forward.
Following recent geopolitical developments—such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and shifts in US leadership—pressure has intensified on NATO allies, including the UK, to increase defence expenditures. The Labour Party has committed to raising defence spending from 2.3% to 2.5% of national income by 2027, which would amount to an extra £6 billion annually, with intentions to further increase this to 3.5% by 2035. According to reports, the Chief of the Defence Staff warned the government of a £28 billion funding gap ahead of Christmas last year, a message he confirmed sharing with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer during a classified December meeting.
When questioned about the UK’s ability to deploy troops to Ukraine as part of a European reassurance force, Sir Richard refrained from specifying troop numbers but expressed confidence in the Army’s capacity to meet its short-term commitments. Regarding domestic preparedness, he acknowledged that the UK is “not doing as well as I would want us” in terms of national resilience. He highlighted the need for greater protection of critical infrastructure like railways and flood defences from potential sabotage. Additionally, Sir Richard noted that while efforts are underway to address the ability to care for increased numbers of wounded soldiers during conflict, the UK currently lacks a comprehensive plan for NHS mobilisation in the event of an all-out war in Europe
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