Former Nato chief to say UK’s national security ‘in peril’

Former Nato Chief to Say UK’s National Security ‘in Peril’

Lord George Robertson, the ex-Nato secretary general and architect of the government’s Strategic Defence Review (SDR), is set to deliver a sharp critique of the UK’s defense priorities. In a speech later this week, he will accuse political leaders of fostering “corrosive complacency” and argue that the nation’s safety is under threat. The former Labour defence secretary will also target “non-military experts in the Treasury,” calling their actions “vandalism” in undermining the SDR’s ambitions.

The government had committed to unveiling a 10-year defense investment plan to support the SDR’s objectives, but the timeline has repeatedly slipped. Despite this, a spokesperson emphasized that the strategy is “backed by the largest sustained increase in defense spending since the Cold War,” citing over £270 billion allocated across the current parliamentary term. Robertson, however, will challenge this, stating:

“We cannot defend Britain with an ever-expanding welfare budget.”

During his address in Salisbury, Robertson will assert:

“We are underprepared. We are underinsured. We are under attack. We are not safe… Britain’s national security and safety is in peril.”

He will accuse current leadership of prioritizing rhetoric over action, noting that even a promised dialogue on defense has not materialized. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer had previously claimed the investment plan was “on his desk” and “finalised,” yet delays persist.

Amid global tensions, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the re-election of US President Donald Trump, the UK faces pressure to increase defense spending. NATO nations are being urged to commit more resources to counter emerging threats. Meanwhile, the head of the British military, Sir Richard Knighton, told the BBC last month that the UK had not been ill-equipped for the Middle East conflict, which began on 28 February with a joint US-Israeli strike on Iran. Knighton described the period as “probably the most dangerous time of the last 30 years.”

Some critics have questioned the UK’s preparedness, particularly regarding its response to the conflict. A notable point of contention is the dispatch of a Royal Navy vessel to Cyprus to safeguard the RAF Akrotiri base, which came under drone attack. Robertson’s intervention aims to underscore the urgency of securing military readiness amid these challenges.