Britain is a powerful country – but let’s not be silly

Britain is often portrayed as a nation in decline, but its global influence and capabilities remain significant. As one of the world’s leading nations, the United Kingdom still punches above its weight on the international stage.

However, a wake-up call is echoing through Whitehall and the military ranks: the UK’s Armed Forces require urgent reform. Strengthening defence is not merely a matter of increasing spending or acquiring the latest high-tech weapons – it is about fixing the fundamentals.

From recruiting and retaining skilled personnel to ensuring tanks are operational and troops have adequate ammunition, the basics matter most.

This opinion piece explores why Britain remains a formidable country, not to be underestimated, yet why overhauling defence fundamentals must be the priority before investing in new hardware. We will compare the UK’s approach with those of key allies and adversaries to provide a broader perspective on Britain’s situation.

The goal is a balanced, factual analysis of how the UK can maintain its global standing by ensuring its defence forces are fit for purpose.

Influence in Perspective

Britain today retains many attributes of a global power. It has the world’s sixth-largest defence budget and, until recently, was the second-highest military spender in NATO after the United States. Germany’s recent surge in funding has nudged the UK into third place, yet Britain remains one of NATO’s top contributors.

London fields advanced military capabilities that few nations possess: a nuclear arsenal, a world-class Royal Navy (including two new aircraft carriers), a modern air force operating fifth-generation jets, and highly trained special forces.

Crucially, the UK is one of only two European nuclear powers (alongside France) and has decades of combat experience, from the Gulf War to Afghanistan. These assets underpin Britain’s role as a leading NATO member and a permanent seat holder on the UN Security Council.

Beyond hard military power, the UK wields extensive soft power and diplomatic influence. British culture and education – from the English language to the Premier League and world-renowned universities – ensure the UK remains among the most influential nations. Britain consistently ranks near the top in global soft power indices. Its close alliances amplify its reach: the “special relationship” with Washington, intelligence-sharing partnerships such as Five Eyes, and deep ties across the Commonwealth and Europe all afford Britain an influence disproportionate to its size.

As one analysis noted, “the country’s potential for real global influence should not be underestimated.” Even as rising powers such as China and India grow in stature, the UK remains a key player in shaping international events.

Importantly, Britain has demonstrated leadership in recent crises. It was among the first to support Ukraine against Russian aggression, providing thousands of anti-tank weapons and training Ukrainian troops. The British Army leads NATO’s battlegroup in Estonia, protecting Europe’s eastern flank. The Royal Navy has maintained a presence in the Indo-Pacific to uphold freedom of navigation. All of this underscores that Britain is far from a minor player – it is a nuclear-armed, diplomatically influential nation with proven military capabilities. In short, Britain remains a global power, and its allies continue to look to London for leadership in security matters.

However, prestige and high-end assets alone do not guarantee readiness or effectiveness. Behind Britain’s formidable image, cracks have begun to appear in the foundation of its Armed Forces. Being a global power means little if the nation cannot fulfil its commitments with capable, well-prepared military forces when it matters.

This is why attention is now shifting to the state of the UK’s defence forces – and why serious reforms are required to ensure Britain’s power rests on solid ground.

Urgent Warning Signs

Despite its global status, the UK’s military has been strained by years of budget constraints and dwindling personnel. The British Army, in particular, has seen its resources and manpower reduced to concerning levels.

At approximately 75,000 active-duty soldiers (plus around 25,000 reserves), the Army is at its smallest size in modern history. To put that in perspective, the US Marine Corps alone is larger than the British Army, as former American General H.R. McMaster bluntly observed.

While Britain has focused on elite equipment and niche capabilities, it has steadily cut “boots on the ground” in recent decades. This shrinking land force raises alarms about the UK’s ability to sustain operations or deploy at scale. Indeed, Britain’s own Defence Secretary recently admitted that the country was “not ready to fight a war,” warning that if the UK is not prepared for conflict, it cannot deter one.

A House of Lords inquiry in 2024 delivered a stark verdict: the war in Ukraine was “a wake-up call, laying bare the gap between [Britain’s] ambition and reality” as a military power. The Lords committee found that the UK Armed Forces “lack the mass, resilience and internal coherence” required to credibly deter adversaries or sustain prolonged conflict.

Put simply, Britain’s military is too small, insufficiently resilient, and not well-integrated for the challenges it may face. These are fundamental issues that no amount of advanced jets or cyber weapons can resolve.

One critical problem is recruitment and retention. The Army has struggled to attract new recruits to fill its ranks – and to retain experienced personnel. A recent parliamentary report concluded that the size of the Army is “inadequate,” pointing to excessive bureaucracy that makes recruitment more difficult than necessary.

Cumbersome enlistment processes, such as excessive medical screening hurdles, discourage eager applicants and slow the intake of new soldiers. At the same time, too many trained servicemembers leave mid-career, citing frustrations over pay, family life, and morale. Surveys of British troops reveal that low pay, high housing costs, and difficulty accessing childcare are key reasons many consider leaving the forces.

These personnel shortages directly undermine operational strength. The UK may have some of the best fighter jets in the world, but without enough pilots and technicians, they are of little use.

This is why defence reform must begin with investment in personnel and basic capabilities. Britain needs to streamline its recruitment process and improve conditions for military families to retain talent.

Encouragingly, plans are in place for a package of measures – likely including better pay, improved housing, and enhanced family support – aimed at boosting retention in the forces. These steps are long overdue. A modern military requires a steady pipeline of motivated recruits and satisfied veterans who choose to stay.

Strengthening the Foundation of British Power

Britain stands at a crossroads in defence policy. It remains a powerful nation – economically, diplomatically, and militarily – with global reach and responsibilities. However, to maintain this status in an increasingly dangerous world, the UK must ensure its defence capabilities align with its ambitions. The first step is recognising the hard truth: there are structural problems in the Armed Forces that money alone will not fix without reform.

More funding is essential; years of budget constraints have left British forces too lean. Yet how that money is spent will determine success or failure. Simply acquiring the latest high-tech weapons is not a solution.

Instead, Britain should focus on the fundamentals: increasing personnel numbers, investing in training and exercises, maintaining and upgrading existing equipment, and rebuilding stockpiles of ammunition and fuel. These are the unglamorous necessities of military power. They may not generate headlines, but they win wars and prevent them.

Britain has faced similar challenges before and adapted accordingly. Now is the time to do so again. A UK that fixes its Armed Forces’ foundations – ensuring recruits are in barracks, rounds are in artillery tubes, and fuel is in the tanks – will remain a formidable force in global security.

Britain owes it to itself and its allies not only to spend more on defence but to spend wisely on what truly matters.