UK defense secretary says military is ‘not ready to fight’
UK Defense Secretary John Healey has acknowledged that the British armed forces are “hollowed out” and “underfunded.” Read Full Article at RT.com
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John Healey has acknowledged that the British armed forces are “hollowed out” and “underfunded.”
The UK military is currently unprepared for major conflicts and would struggle to deter an enemy should war break out, according to British Defense Secretary John Healey. He made these remarks during his appearance on PMG's Power Play podcast on Thursday.
Healey pointed out that the army, navy, and air force have been “hollowed out” and “underfunded” over the last 14 years of Conservative Party governance. He noted that when the Labour Party assumed power in July, they anticipated poor conditions but were taken aback by the dire state of finances and military readiness.
"The UK, in keeping with many other nations, has essentially become very skilled and ready to conduct military operations. What we have not been ready to do is to fight. Unless we are ready to fight, we are not in shape to deter,” the defense secretary stressed.
Healey emphasized that this issue is central to NATO's strategic thinking: "This is at the heart of the NATO thinking. We have got to not just be capable of defending our NATO nations, but more importantly we have got to be more effective in the deterrence we provide against any future aggression.”
He also called for Britain and other NATO members to “innovate” and utilize new technologies, learning from the ongoing situation in Ukraine to enhance their military effectiveness.
In response to Healey's remarks, a spokesman for the Labour government stated, “this Government will always do what is required to defend the country. The UK’s Armed Forces are amongst the best in the world and offer a 24/7 defense of the UK, operating alongside our allies and partners to prepare for any event.”
He added that “The Strategic Defense Review [which was launched in July] will look at the threats we face and the capabilities we need so that our Armed Forces are better ready to fight, more integrated and more innovative.”
Additionally, The Telegraph reported, citing a senior defense source, that the upcoming UK budget is “almost certainly” not going to allocate more funds to the Defense Ministry.
According to government statistics, Britain's army, navy, and air force are set to begin 2024 with just over 138,000 active-duty personnel, the smallest number since the end of the Napoleonic wars. The army's headcount has notably decreased from over 100,000 in 2010 to 75,110 at the start of this year.
Rohan Mehta for TROIB News
The UK military is currently unprepared for major conflicts and would struggle to deter an enemy should war break out, according to British Defense Secretary John Healey. He made these remarks during his appearance on PMG's Power Play podcast on Thursday.
Healey pointed out that the army, navy, and air force have been “hollowed out” and “underfunded” over the last 14 years of Conservative Party governance. He noted that when the Labour Party assumed power in July, they anticipated poor conditions but were taken aback by the dire state of finances and military readiness.
"The UK, in keeping with many other nations, has essentially become very skilled and ready to conduct military operations. What we have not been ready to do is to fight. Unless we are ready to fight, we are not in shape to deter,” the defense secretary stressed.
Healey emphasized that this issue is central to NATO's strategic thinking: "This is at the heart of the NATO thinking. We have got to not just be capable of defending our NATO nations, but more importantly we have got to be more effective in the deterrence we provide against any future aggression.”
He also called for Britain and other NATO members to “innovate” and utilize new technologies, learning from the ongoing situation in Ukraine to enhance their military effectiveness.
In response to Healey's remarks, a spokesman for the Labour government stated, “this Government will always do what is required to defend the country. The UK’s Armed Forces are amongst the best in the world and offer a 24/7 defense of the UK, operating alongside our allies and partners to prepare for any event.”
He added that “The Strategic Defense Review [which was launched in July] will look at the threats we face and the capabilities we need so that our Armed Forces are better ready to fight, more integrated and more innovative.”
Additionally, The Telegraph reported, citing a senior defense source, that the upcoming UK budget is “almost certainly” not going to allocate more funds to the Defense Ministry.
According to government statistics, Britain's army, navy, and air force are set to begin 2024 with just over 138,000 active-duty personnel, the smallest number since the end of the Napoleonic wars. The army's headcount has notably decreased from over 100,000 in 2010 to 75,110 at the start of this year.
Rohan Mehta for TROIB News
