General Sir Patrick Sanders, the head of the British Army, has sent a message to the UK government to “mobilise the nation” in anticipation of a potential conflict. Sir Patrick’s reason? He says citizens need to be mentally prepared for a call-up if NATO engages in a conflict with Russia.
Preparing for War?
To make it clear, General Sir Patrick does not endorse conscription, but he does stress the necessity for strengthening the mindset of British citizens in what he called a “shift.”
He suggested that individuals should mentally prepare for the possibility of war and align their thinking with that of military personnel who are consistently aware of the potential for conflict.
As General Sir Patrick puts it, “This is our 1937 moment. We are not at war, but must act rapidly so that we aren’t drawn into one through a failure to contain territorial expansion.”
General Sir Patrick Sanders, set to step down as Chief of the General Staff in six months, likened the current state of affairs to the UK’s “1937 moment” during the war in Ukraine.
General Sanders stressed that the British public, both men and women, must be ready to “fight and win” if NATO was to be sucked into Ukraine’s war with Putin’s Russia.
Russia’s Buildup and NATO’s Struggles
Russian President Vladimir Putin has greatly increased his military expenditure, tripling Russia’s armed forces, which has sparked this reaction from the British General. Concurrently, NATO faces challenges in replenishing weapon stocks provided to Ukraine, after Ukraine’s President Zelensky warned that Ukraine’s aid was in danger of becoming “frozen.”
According to Admiral Rob Bauer, nations must be prepared to “find more people if it comes to war” and consider “mobilisation, reservists or conscription.”
Following in the footsteps of its neighbour Sweden, Norway has urged its citizens to brace for potential conflict. In the United States, challenges in passing a $100 billion military aid package for Ukraine become a growing issue.
Defence sources have shown concerns that a return to power by former President Donald Trump might favor Russia.
UK Defence Plans and Cabinet Tensions
Keeping a close eye on Russia’s movements in Ukraine, the UK’s Defence Secretary, Grant Shapps, has engaged with the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, urging increased aid. The UK plans to raise its military aid to £2.5 billion this year, showing its commitment to potentially stopping a global conflict from spreading.
“At this critical time for our country, with challenges at home and abroad, our party must focus on the people we serve and deliver for the country,” Shapps said.
All three branches of the UK armed forces currently face a recruitment and retention crisis. The Army anticipates a drop in fully trained soldiers to 72,500, accompanied by ongoing struggles in recruitment. Capita doesn’t allow those with tattoos, hay fever, or asthma to enlist, but now there are increased calls to remove these tight restrictions to help with the crisis.
Despite a 10-year contract extension in 2020, the company admitted to falling short of recruiting the required 9,813 personnel in 2022.
As the Royal Navy confronts challenges in recruiting, with only 29,000 full-time recruits, the shortage has prompted the decommissioning of two warships, HMS Westminster and HMS Argyll, to staff the new fleet of Type 26 frigates.
A Call for Unity and National Preparedness
After growing calls from former MPs for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to step down as PM, Dame Priti Patel, the former home secretary, urged the government to focus on the people of the country, saying, “Engaging in facile and divisive self-indulgence only serves our opponents, it’s time to unite and get on with the job.”
A Ministry of Defence (MoD) survey revealed dissatisfaction among service personnel, with only 34% feeling valued and 46% dissatisfied with accommodation standards.
The military is also facing a sexual harassment crisis, resulting in female personnel leaving the armed forces and ultimately lowering morale among troops. Over the past year, 16,260 personnel have left the Armed Forces.
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