The head of the British Armed forces has warned that more British families will “know what sacrifice for our nation means” as the country prepares for the possibility of war with Russia
According to Chief of the Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, there is a growing risk that Russia could attack the UK, and the nation’s “sons and daughters” need to be ready to fight Russia.
He said “more people” are needed to be ready to fight to protect the UK and schools should encourage children to take up jobs in the arms industry, while warning that Russia’s military strength is increasing and is something to fear.
Sky News reports: He said the UK’s armed forces would always be the first line of defence alongside the rest of the NATO alliance, but the whole of society must also play a part in rebuilding resilience.
The chief of the defence staff said it is important to be honest with “families and households” across the UK about what it means to be prepared for “an array of real, physical threats”.
UK’s ‘sons and daughters’ must be ready
Serving up a sombre reality check, Air Chief Marshal Knighton said he agreed with his French counterpart, General Fabien Mandon, who said last month that France must be ready for the possibility of losing its children in a potential war with Russia.
“The situation is more dangerous than I have known during my career, and the price of peace is rising,” the British defence chief said.
“Our response needs to go beyond simply strengthening our armed forces. It needs a whole of nation response that builds our defence industrial capacity, grows the skills we need, harnesses the power of the institutions we will need in wartime and ensures and increases the resilience of society and the infrastructure that supports it.”
He continued: “Sons and daughters. Colleagues. Veterans. …will all have a role to play.
“To build. To serve. And if necessary, to fight. And more families will know what sacrifice for our nation means.”
Most people in the UK, though, no longer have direct experience of the armed forces thanks to the peace that followed the end of the Cold War almost 35 years ago.
The military chief noted that it was 65 years ago this month since the last national service call-ups took place, and 80 years since the end of the Second World War.