Former Nato chief to say UK’s national security ‘in peril’

Former Nato Chief to Say UK’s National Security ‘in Peril’

Lord George Robertson, the former NATO secretary general and author of the UK’s Strategic Defence Review (SDR), is set to launch a critical assessment of current leadership in a speech on Tuesday. He will highlight what he describes as a “lack of serious commitment” to defense, arguing that the country’s safety is at risk. Robertson will specifically target non-military advisors in the Treasury, calling their actions “destructive” to national priorities.

The government has pledged to release a 10-year defense funding plan to support the SDR’s goals but has faced delays in finalizing it. A spokesperson emphasized that the review is supported by the highest increase in defense spending since the Cold War, totaling over £270 billion over the current parliamentary term. However, Robertson will challenge this claim, asserting that the welfare budget’s growth is incompatible with securing Britain’s future.

“Britain’s defense cannot be sustained through an ever-growing welfare budget,” the former Labour defense secretary will state. “We are underprepared. We are underinsured. We are under attack. We are not safe… Britain’s national security and safety is in peril.”

In his address in Salisbury, Robertson will accuse political leaders of neglecting risks and threats, framing their approach as “superficial.” He criticized the failure to initiate a meaningful dialogue on defense, despite promises to do so. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, recently said the investment plan was “on the final stages” of development.

The government aims to allocate 3% of GDP to defense by the end of the next parliament, as outlined by a defense official. Despite this, recent global tensions—such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the re-election of U.S. President Donald Trump—have intensified calls for increased military spending across NATO nations.

Following the joint U.S.-Israeli strike on Iran in February, some have questioned the UK’s preparedness for the Middle East conflict. Chief of the Defence Staff Sir Richard Knighton told the BBC that the period is “probably the most dangerous time of the last 30 years.” This comes as a Royal Navy vessel was deployed to Cyprus to safeguard the RAF Akrotiri base, which came under drone attack earlier this month.