Everyone in UK ‘must step up’ amid WW3 threat, armed forces chief to warn

NATO previously warned that it's Russia's next target

Sir Richard Knighton, Chief of the Defence Staff, is expected to say that the situation is “more dangerous than I have known during my career”.

He is expected to say that “our armed forces always need to be ready to fight and win – that’s why readiness is such a priority”, in a speech at the Royal United Service Institute on Monday.

Sir Richard is also expected to call on “people who are not soldiers, sailors or aviators to nevertheless invest their skills – and money” on building up national resilience.

“It’s about our defence and resilience being a higher national priority for all of us. An ‘all-in’ mentality. And that will require people who are not soldiers, sailors or aviators to nevertheless invest their skills – and money – in innovation and problem solving on the nation’s behalf”, he is expected to say in his speech.

The leader of the defence staff will also warn that Russian leadership has made clear its wish to “challenge, limit, divide and ultimately destroy NATO.”

He is expected to say that “we are heading into uncertainty, and that uncertainty is becoming more profound, both as our adversaries become more capable and unpredictable, and as unprecedented technology change manifests itself”, as he will discuss the threats faced by Britain.

Sir Richard Knighton is also expected to announce £50 million for new defence technical excellence colleges. This will provide short courses aimed at ensuring training can be accessed for new and existing staff in the defence sector more quickly.

According to the Ministry of Defence, Knighton would also discuss “the need to rebuild our defence capabilities and the national infrastructure which underpins that resilience”.

Earlier this month, he warned that in order not to risk losing advantage in the Atlantic, Britain must “step up” on defence.

His warning came at a time when Russia is continuing to spend billions on its sea capabilities.

UK defence and security spending would rise to 5% of GDP by 2035 at the latest, the Government announced earlier this year.

Secretary General of NATO, Mark Rutte, last week warned that Europe was “Russia’s next target” and that countries should prepare for a “scale of war our grandparents or great-grandparents endured”.