UK – Britain must be ready within just over 1 000 days to wage and win war alongside its allies, warns Wes Streeting, British Defence Secretary. He says hostile nations could have the military capability to attack Britain by 2030. The warning comes amid growing concern over Russia's military capabilities, cyber attacks and threats to critical infrastructure.
Streeting made the warning in an article in LBC and said Britain's priority must be to strengthen its defence capability and prepare alongside its Nato allies for possible conflict. According to reports, he emphasised that the capability of hostile nations to cause damage is changing, even if their willingness to do so is not new. The aim is to deter possible attackers, but also to ensure the country is ready if deterrence fails.
The warning coincides with the British government's new Be Ready campaign, which encourages residents to keep emergency supplies for at least three days at home. Official guidelines recommend, among other things, drinking water, long-lasting food, a torch, blankets, cash and a first aid kit. The government says the preparation is intended to help households if essential services such as electricity, water or internet access are disrupted. This does not mean that a war is expected or considered inevitable within that timeframe.
The British government's Strategic Defence Review also warned that the country's security environment is changing and that Britain must strengthen its military readiness and the protection of critical infrastructure. The document emphasises the importance of cooperation with Nato allies and greater resilience against threats, including those that do not take the form of a conventional military attack.
Sources: Anadolu Agency, LBC, The Independent
This article is an automatic English translation of a Nuusflits article originally published in Afrikaans. Read the Afrikaans original.
