Britain’s military chief will warn on Monday that the nation is facing the most ‘dangerous time’ he has known during his career.
As the threat from Russia grows, Chief of the Defence Staff Sir Richard Knighton will say the whole country needs to ‘step up’ to stave off Vladimir Putin’s aggression.
Following concerns about the danger posed by Russia to Nato, Sir Richard will make the case for a society-wide approach to ‘defence and deterrence’. He will call on civilians to help build national resilience to ensure the UK functions in a crisis.
In a speech at the Royal United Services Institute in Whitehall on Monday, he is expected to say: ‘Our Armed Forces always need to be ready to fight and win – that’s why readiness is such a priority.
‘But deterrence is also about our resilience to these threats… how we harness all our national power, from universities, to industry, the rail network to the NHS. It’s about our defence and resilience being a higher national priority for all of us. An ‘all-in’ mentality.
‘That will require people who are not soldiers, sailors or aviators to nevertheless invest their skills, and money, in innovation and problem-solving on the nation’s behalf.’
Sir Richard will warn that Russia’s leadership has made its wish to ‘challenge, limit, divide and ultimately destroy Nato’ clear. On the threats faced by Britain, he will say: ‘The situation is more dangerous than I have known during my career, and the response requires more than simply strengthening our Armed Forces.
Sir Richard Knighton will say the whole country needs to ‘step up’ to stave off Vladimir Putin’s aggression in a speech at the Royal United Services Institute on Monday
Sir Richard will warn that Russia’s leadership has made its wish to ‘challenge, limit, divide and ultimately destroy Nato’ clear
‘A new era for defence doesn’t just mean our military and Government stepping up – as we are – it means our whole nation stepping up.
‘The war in Ukraine shows Putin’s willingness to target neighbouring states, including their civilian populations… threatens the whole of Nato, including the UK.’
He will draw attention to a threat by Russian ex-president Dmitry Medvedev that the Kremlin aspires to ‘the disappearance of Ukraine and… Nato – preferably both’.
He is set to announce £50million for new defence technical excellence colleges to provide courses to ensure defence staff can get extra training more quickly.