Former army chief urges stronger UK defences as Russian threats grow
Lord Richard Dannatt, a former head of the British Army, has urged the Government to strengthen Britain’s defences, saying it is moving too slowly as Russian threats grow. His comments came as the public was advised to keep three days of food and water at home, and senior Nato figures warned that Russian sabotage could accidentally escalate into a wider conflict.
Experts cited a range of possible threats, including drones launched from sanctioned oil tankers, surveillance of military sites, attacks on exposed infrastructure and nuclear weapons. Gerbera drones can reportedly be hidden in cargo containers and fly about 370 miles, while the Garpiya-A1(E) has a reported range of 620 miles. The article says Russia is suspected of covert attacks in several European Nato countries; the Government has not committed to raising defence spending to 3 per cent of GDP by 2030.
In short
- A former army chief says Britain should strengthen its defences.
- Officials warn Russian sabotage could escalate unexpectedly.
- Experts describe drones, surveillance and infrastructure as potential targets.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The Government should strengthen UK defences more quickly as Russia’s war and suspected covert operations pose risks to Britain and its Nato allies. Supporters of higher spending argue that better protection for infrastructure, military sites and the public, alongside readiness for emerging threats such as long-range drones, could deter attacks and reduce the danger of miscalculation escalating into conflict.
The case against
A more cautious approach can recognise the threat while questioning whether a rapid rise in defence spending is the best response. With public resources limited and the threats described varying in likelihood, the Government could prioritise specific gaps, improve coordination and resilience, and assess the evidence before committing to a fixed spending target that may divert money from other needs.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “As Brits are warned to stockpile food and water, the terrifying range of options Putin has to attack UK: ‘PM has his head in the sand’”.