Britain would be ready to fight as part of a NATO response in 2025, but senior defence leaders today acknowledged there are still risks to the UK’s fighting readiness.
Pressed by Fred Thomas MP on whether the Armed Forces could realistically respond to an unpredictable Russian assault on NATO’s eastern flank, Defence Secretary John Healey pointed to existing deployments: “In Estonia, we’d already have around 1,000 troops there, an integrated deterrence and defence planning and exercising already in place with the Estonian force.”
He emphasised that any response would be collective: “We would respond not just as the UK. We’d respond as part of a 32-strong NATO Alliance.” He said this unity had helped deter Russia so far and underpinned the UK’s own commitments in the Strategic Defence Review.
However, when asked to specify what else the UK could field beyond the Estonia deployment, General Dame Sharon Nesmith, Vice Chief of the Defence Staff, declined to detail numbers but offered a candid admission: “We’d be the first to say we, of course, would be ready to fight, but we’d also say and acknowledge that there are risks in our ability to do that.”
She framed the Strategic Defence Review and associated reforms as a direct response to those capability gaps: “Everything that we’ve talked about so far in the Defence Review, and indeed the reform, is about making us more lethal and stronger as part of a stronger NATO.”
Healey reinforced that the UK is contributing to NATO’s defence planning: “NATO has a plan for exactly what you’re describing. The UK has roles to play within that plan, and if that sort of action was undertaken by Russia, that’s the response that they should expect.”
Headless chickens…
We are certainly not ready to fight!
Depends in what domain?
Air war – yes we are and RAF would make shirt work of RuAF.
Surface navy – even the weakened RN would be able to deal with that. UKR dealt with the Russian fleet with no navy and British advice.
Subsurface – with the reduced fleet with tails we’d struggle alone. What we have with P8, T23 and Astute is super excellent. We just do t have enough to man mark each of their assets to day 1 mission kill them. So there will be subs rattling around doing damage till they run out of munitions.
Land – we simply don’t have the mass of troops and kit anymore. However, Apache and F35B would do a huge amount to support others and we can undertake a wide range of specialist roles.
A good example being our lack of artillery
But we are more than ready to spout non committal bluster.
The Sky News Wargame showed the UK is not capable of fighting conventionally alone.
I was listening to this Wargame last night, although not in the least bit surprising, it was nonetheless still chilling.
But there is a faint hope that the tide on defence importance has been improving since 2021, very very slowly, with increasing political pressure to improve things.
Yes things are going very slowly in the right direction. A lot now rests on the Autumn defence plan. Especially as SDSR 25 was promising, but incredibly vague in terms of equipment composition and numbers.
SDR , only words and bla bla bla , at the moment no firm orders
I won’t hold my breath until there are firm increased orders.
The F35 order was announced by BW and had a budget line for ages.
I’m not sure how it’s physically possible for the UK to fight a conventional war alone. Unless we are fighting the Republic of Ireland.
It’s not surprising we lack the amphibious capability to invade Russia. Even in 1854 last time we tried we had the French with us.
What the Wargame illustrated is that the UK can’t even defend itself from a Russian conventional attack.
I am most certainly not ready to fight for this government.
Nobody in their right mind fights for their government. I certainly wouldn’t fight for the government, or King, and feel increasingly little for the country. I would fight for my family though, who happen to live in this country, and anyone who threatens them will get no mercy if push comes to shove.
Ha ha ha, wow 😂😂😂! Shit the bed what planet are these politicos and nodding dog head sheds on? We have so many capability gaps that we would struggle to provide any sort of independent self sufficient home grown formation of any size. Years of neglect, waste and disinterest by various political organisations have resulted in a hollowed out military with just a few role specific platforms of any worth!
Yes we would be part of any NATO formation to face and fight the Russians, as the Brits are up for a scrap, but the days of bringing a tier 1 Division to any fight are well and truly over!
As an aside, if reserves are called and required I for one would no longer fight for this country on any external enterprise. However, would I fight any internal fight to retain and defend our land and history, the land our families and forefathers are buried in, the land being betrayed and given away to so many by so few! Yes! I would use my skills, experience and knowledge to defend this land, from the enemies within, uniformed and non uniformed! The winds of change are blowing, we just have to decide what direction we want to go.
Very well said.
That is what I would expect from the traitors of Reform. You openly admit you will not honour your reserve commitments while no doubt thinking you still have the right to your pension. This is why right wing extremists like you are unfit to serve and should never have been allowed into the military.
I have no doubt you would fight for Putin within the country. The last time we clashed directly you were defending the people calling for a military coup if Labour won the election; More open Reformers.
Stop pretending to be pro-British. Like the other Reform propagandists on this site you are just here to destroy us from within.
Do you think the Non UK born BAME and the pronoun brigade would fight? Those somali born, stabby drug dealers who’s single parent hogs social housing in inner London for instance?
In our existing , capability strapped situation the moment UK forces engage Ru forces in Estonia, then Ru cruise and ballistic missiles will cripple our too few power stations and critical infrastructure because we have next to nothing to shoot them down.
When the lights go out, and hacking stops benefits being paid, we will genuinely see just how far the resilience of this nation has fallen.
Some will sigh up, but with the enemy fighting into an EU member state, ai think a lot of the public may see a Britian first approach.and not want to face the realities that life isn’t all social media and Turkey teeth and go and die in a ditch for another country.
You are sad as obviously not ex mil as I no longer have any reserve liability, oh dear another clown without subject matter experience but quick at frothing at the mouth. I actually voted Lib Dem on occasion (if you ever knew who Colchester local MP used to be) so your presumption my little Iranian troll farm special saddo is incorrect.
Had to read your reply again for a giggle, but if you’re scared of what may happen in the future, you can thank your sad racist traitor leftie mates! It’s ok, if your scared I’m sure there’s a PIP claim there somewhere to go along with the rest of your disability payments ❤️❤️❤️ Up up the IDF up up the IDF up up the IDF!
Very well said good post mate 🍺 👍
I’m not surprised Naysmith declined.
Because they try to hide the truth of what politicians have done to our military since 1995.
Luckily, unlike senior officers, posters on UKDJ are not gagged.
“Luckily, unlike senior officers, posters on UKDJ are not gagged”
Yes but with respect to you and that particular comment, posters on UKDJ aren’t running the armed forces, police or the Country though, infact “We” are just chatting and sharing thoughts in the comments section of what is a very good defence reporting site set up by mostly non serving civillians.
And actually in realility, that’s all it is when you actually sit back and think about it.
That’s also why I don’t take the comments here too seriously because that would be silly.
“Believe half of what you see and nothing of what you read”.
Well said.
Yes but it’s cathartic.
Yes, you seem fascinated by that fact, HW, you make that point all the time. 😄
Likewise in any subject. I like football, for example, there are countless fan discussion sites. But these fans do not pick the team. It is an interest forum.
I’m sure in your previous guises here, which by your word usage I’ve had my suspicions, you were as serious as others are including me.
Power to change the world or not, I myself consider the subject a serious one, and approach it in that manner.
But by all means continue to act the 🤡, it brings light relief for sure.
And another thought. General Naysmith might not want to talk orbats for reluctance to discuss facts.
But we can. For viewers of this site with an interest who might not know.
So why don’t we?
Ready my arse!
Says who? what a load of deluded rubbish, fight what with? hard language? we have not a lot, low on ammo, most kit is VOR awaiting spares, and we have 12/14 working SPG’s.
Why would they not just keep quiet or pass it of with “We see no prospect of imminent conflict with Russia?”
Our armed forces are in a dire state and everyone knows it. Government lets them down time after time.
I’m ready to be the next British astronaut but I’m pretty sure I won’t be going. We’re not ready to fight anyone. Just more government bullshit.
With 80 MBT,s and 150 aircraft I don t see logical to go to fight with Russia, other situation is to defend the country.
‘Ready to fight’ is for the news headlines and does not reflect reality, simply a redirect rather than admit the reality. Yes they could fight, that is a broad phrase and a technicality that is easily met, but likely could not come close to meeting the actual agreed upon UK NATO commitments which have been planned around and NATO would rely on but likely not receive.
The uk has committed to provide one of the NATO Reserve Corps (2 UK Divisions plus HQ), they have not dropped this commitment despite knowing full well that they would struggle to field a single Division even if pulling from various parts of the Army, this would also likely not be an expected armoured Division and would rely heavily on light infantry. On top of this, there is a battle group committed to a deployment in Estonia, whilst I’m not arguing the value of this, this battle group would be needed for the agreed Strategic Reserve Corps yet it is on the front lines double hatted and would not be available, leaving even fewer available resources for the Strategic Reserve Corps that is already severely lacking.
JEF, need I say more now that the Albions are gone and MRSS is likely a decade or more away.
Referring to “risks” is intentionally misleading, there are many known capability gaps, they are not risks they are decisions with known consequences. Risks are unforeseen circumstances, in this context it could be forces being deployed potentially being targeted on route and not being able to deliver as expected. Not having the mass and equipment you agreed to provide to begin with is a liability you are fully aware of and is not unforeseen, in most cases relating to the Army it is a choice. Currently there does not seem to be any movement towards meeting these commitments, no urgency in filling gaps and incorporating new technologies.
There is much talk of NATO first, being a part of a broad alliance, but there doesn’t seem to be much focus on the ability to actually meet NATO commitments beyond saying we spend X, which does not translate to capability. Being part of a 32 strong alliance doesn’t mean that there is no need to provide what has been agreed and would be required. The purpose of NATO is to pool resources to plan around agreed structures, force levels and commitments and these actually being met to provide collective responsibility and deterrence.
If the U.K, which is supposed to be the second most senior member of the alliance is not willing to do what is necessary to supply what it has agreed, why should any other country that isn’t on the front line do so, especially under British leadership ? and there goes the foundation of NATO along with its value as a deterrence.
If the U.K. is not willing to do what is necessary to provide a Strategic Reserve Corps, it should drop the commitment and admit it won’t be there and re-assess its position in NATO inline with what it is actually willing to provide and drop the grandstanding nonsense, reliability as an ally is more important that spin to try and maintain a false position that cannot be delivered.
You act like we are different to anyone else though, are the French, Germans, Americans, Russian or Chinese ready to fight a major war tomorrow? No, most are in a much worse position than us. That’s what peace time looks like. Things are very different to the Cold War. We don’t have to defend Europe or western civilisation on our own any more because we won the battle of civilisation a long time ago. We only need to help now with dozens of other wealthy powerful nations.
I would say that china is far more ready than most..
Russia is already fighting and their economy/industry is geared up for attritional wars.
China is totally prepared for a long war, even the US would struggle against them
Even Iran, despite the drubbing the IDF just gave them, is more prepared for war than most European countries:
All these countries have several things in common:
A large military-industrial capacity to produce all varieties of weapons en-masse and the economy to support it
Ability to recruit/train in large numbers and keep large reserves.
The political will to do all of the above.
Jim, i agree with some of what you’ve said but Wealthy, Powerful Nations does not always equal Military Capability. You can’t fight armour with banknotes.
Hi Jim, whether different or the same as other nations in regards to readiness, it doesn’t change what the Government has chosen to commit to whilst knowing it will not deliver, yet will not reduce its commitment in line with what it is willing to deliver, it isn’t forced into such commitments so why keep them ?
You say that the U.K. will not have to defend Europe alone, you are correct, it is part of an alliance and the Strategic Reserve Corps is a major part of the UK’s commitment to that alliance and its collective defence. The other members should also be meeting their commitments in the same way the U.K. should be, I’m not sure anyone would expect any less.
Again, if it is not necessary to provide such forces then why have the commitment in the first place, why does NATO request it and why does the U.K. agree to it ?
We’d be ready for the first hour but after the first cruise and ballistic missiles hit our unprotected 3 fastjet and 3 naval bases we’ll be not ready again.
Word to the wise. If the enemy has the ability to do something existential to you and you cant prevent it then he’ll probably do it.
Use that as a lens to determine whether you’re ready or not.
That is rubbish we are not ready to fight a war.. In reality being ready to fight a war is a purposeful act that takes a huge national effort over a significant length of time that will have an impact on the wider economic and social fabric of a nation.
Look at the European nations in the late 1930s. Look at the Soviet Union and west during the Cold War, these were all nations readying for war and there was massive political, social and economic repercussions. Infact it damages the fabric of a nation to be ready for war and it is generally not a sustainable proposition.. at some point the nation has to go to war, stand down or it or its enemy suffers economic collapse.
Are we ready to fight? Yes of course But at what scale? and how much attrition could we absorb?
What force size could Russia field in the Baltics ?
I read Russia is forming a force of 70,000 troops to station at Finland’s border.
As a non-military but interested fan of UKDJ, I get very confused by the contradictory reports on the current state of Russian forces. One minute I read that they have 70,000 (implying crack, ready to attack?) troops poised on the Finland border, the next that they have rubbish ships, aircraft, tanks, etc, and can’t even deal with Ukraine.
Also, that ENATO is very powerful but still rubbish.
What/who should I believe please?
The quality of Russia’s equipment and poor tactics (leading to great losses) is a different discussion.
What Russia does have is the capacity to build, refurbish military equipment, and recruit on a large scale.
The threat is not really from Russia (its got to many problems of its own to deal with and of course their little military exercise has certainly not gone well and is not really supported by the populus there). The Threat to our way of life comes with all those crossing the channel and demanding their rights to free everything. Of course we have China who is expanding it’s influence ever greater around the globe which is now a super power. We need strong leadership which may not be popular with the woke brigade but then real democracy has to be brough back. MAGORITY RULE not those sick individuals who have no idea which end a pencil is sharp!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!