The First Sea Lord, General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, has warned that Britain risks defeat at sea against Russia unless the Royal Navy is rebuilt with more warships and drones. Speaking at a private event at Admiralty House, he said the UK must "strengthen our war-fighting readiness" and "rediscover what it means to be a maritime nation" to prevail in the Atlantic, echoing earlier warnings that Britain is at risk of losing its naval advantage to Vladimir Putin's forces. The warning matters because it comes as the Navy faces budget cuts even while Russian naval activity in UK waters is rising sharply.

The Navy has been reduced to just five frigates following the retirement of HMS Iron Duke, and its hunter-killer submarine fleet has repeatedly been unable to sail this year, while submarines have completed record patrols exceeding 200 days. Despite the threat, Defence Secretary Wes Streeting has ordered the Navy and RAF to find £1.8billion in savings, part of a wider £3billion "efficiencies" drive, prompting criticism from former military chiefs and mixed messages from ministers over defence versus social spending. Russian incursions into UK waters have risen by a third in two years, and General Sir Gwyn is responding within budget limits by introducing drones and uncrewed systems across the fleet's ships and submarines.