- Dr. Fiona Hill, a strategic defence review author and former White House advisor, warns that the UK is already at war with Russia, and has been ‘menaced’ by the country for years, citing poisonings, cyber-attacks, and sabotage operations.
- The government's strategic defence review (SDR) revealed that the UK's armed forces are not adequately prepared to combat opponents like Russia or China due to insufficient weapons, medical services, and personnel.
- Defence Secretary John Healey stated that the British army needs to become "10 times more lethal" due to the immediate threat from Russia and the rise of China, while General Sir Richard Barrons warned of the short time it would take a cruise missile to reach the UK.
- Sir Keir Starmer pledged to make Britain a "battle-ready, armour-clad nation" by increasing army personnel to 100,000, adding 12 new submarines, and investing in drones and AI, but he did not commit to spending 3% of GDP on defence by 2034.
- Dr. Hill cautioned that the UK can no longer depend on the US as a reliable ally, particularly under a potential second Trump administration, and expressed concerns about the rise of populist right-wing politics in both the US and UK.
IN FULL
Russia is already at war with Britain and we can no longer rely on Trump, defence adviser warns
