Britain’s top military officer has called for NATO to confront Russia across every front, warning that deterrence depends on showing strength in all areas of competition, from nuclear forces to economic pressure.
Speaking in Washington, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin told the Centre for Strategic and International Studies that “the policy of NATO is to deter. And we deter by demonstrating to Russia that we are stronger, that we are ready to fight, and that we will beat them.”
He made clear that this was not limited to conventional military power, adding “that means contesting Russia in every domain – nuclear, land, sea, air, cyber and space – as well as in the diplomatic and economic arenas.”
Radakin linked this approach directly to Ukraine’s struggle, saying it was “imperative to double down on our efforts to support Ukraine’s ability to defend its courageous people against Russian aggression to preserve their hard-won freedom and independence through a just and lasting peace.” The war, now well into its third year, has exposed the limits of Russian power, but the Admiral warned that Moscow’s weakness makes it more dangerous, not less.
He described Russia’s current strategy as one of sub-threshold operations designed to harass the West without triggering direct conflict. “The very reason Russia is pursuing sub-threshold attacks against us is because Russia is unwilling and unable to do so through more overt means. Putin does not want a war with NATO. He cannot even win a war against Ukraine,” Radakin said. However, he cautioned that “Russia has more cause to be fearful of an Alliance of 32 than the other way around.”
The Admiral rejected the idea of a purely defensive posture in Europe, saying he was “wary of too great an emphasis on homeland defence, or a fortress Europe”. Instead, he argued for forward defence, projecting power outward rather than retreating behind NATO borders. This, he said, meant matching Russia not just in the skies and seas, but also in cyber warfare, space capabilities, diplomacy and economic influence.
Radakin’s remarks come at a time when NATO forces are expanding training missions and operational deployments in Eastern Europe, the High North and the Black Sea region. The alliance has also intensified its economic and diplomatic measures to constrain Moscow’s ability to sustain its war effort.
According to Radakin, the goal is not simply to respond to Russian actions but to create a strategic environment in which Russia recognises it cannot prevail. This, he argued, is the essence of deterrence and the reason NATO must be willing to operate in every domain.
Whilst we shrink from every domain! Hypocrisy
The smallest dogs often yap the loudest….
Well, the UK is at no risk itself of a land invasion, and 120-odd nuclear missiles give it a reasonable MAD capability against Russia even if everyone else stays out, so the direct risks to itself are cyberwar, sabotage, and missile attack.
I have heard it said that the UK actually has excellent offensive cyberwar capabilities, but I’m not sure how much that is hyperbole.
what it doesn’t say is Russian incursion into NATO nations waters
What the hell😤🤣…total nonsense
We have sat on the subs bench watching since 2022 and could have intervened since!
What have we done… NOTHING
And that’s what we will continue to do because we are weak
Coalition of the willing … to waffle on !
So let’s put British troops into Ukraine and see if we get an “essence of deterrence” ..Eh!
Radakin and others are a complete waste of time… and love saber-rattling!
Troops in Ukraine? , with what?, with the 100 challengers available ? , with 150 aircraft as a whole? Be realistic and stop dreaming. Jesús.
we ARE WEAK AND EVERYONE KNOWS IT. TWO AIRCRAFT CARRIERS DON’T MAKE A NAVY AND 20+ F 35 DON’T MAKE AN AIR FORCE.
“He made clear that this was not limited to conventional military power”
He kind of had to, really — given the state in which he’s leaving our conventional military.
Well Admiral Radakin I suggest have a word with PM Starmer ,tell him for one stop Cutting back Ships Aircraft AFV , and grow the size of our forces .And of course tell him he needs 5% GDP on Defence budget now not in 5yrs time . Secondly tell him Coalition of the willing get real this won’t scare Putin .So stop Acting like MR Big .
Grandstanding.
HMG have to as part of the UNSC P5 thing.
And the UK remains a major power. But one who has cut its forces way, way too far and whose politicians have no intention in reversing the trend unless they are forced by events.
By which time it may be too late.
When is the sd review coming out again? Did I miss it?
When is the sd review coming out again? Did I miss it?
I can’t agree with previous commentators completely, but am bound to say that as an ex Navy full career aircraft engineer who has served in NATO. Due to our “special relationship” with the USA it was up to us Brits to remind the US that this or that operation was to serve NATO members, not US foreign interests and military sales. Trump has finally shown he is not capable of leading NATO or western democracy. What UK can offer is leadership and is already doing so by HMS Prince of Wales current deployment to the Indo-Pacific leading a task force of international ships as we don’t have enough of our own. Also leading a “group of the willing” to support Ukraine. We already fill the Deputy SACEUR NATO post and must promote a revised NATO to reduce dependence on the US and their military products in favour of EU integrated solutions. But I agree the Labour government must produce a 10 year military funding for UK armed forces, not just for the current government period and the next “when economic circumstances allow”. And speed up closer relationships with a changing EU. Rachel Reeves has an almost impossible task, but investment in defence and security related jobs will help. We need more people like Tony Radakin and Ben Wallace to make the military voice heard. Can you imagine a UK where the armed forces are led by Boris Johnson, Jacob Rees Mogg or Nigel Farage? I want my grandchildren to grow up in a world where we live in harmony with each other and the world our activities are harming.