Arabic version: رئيس الناتو السابق يحذر من تدهور الأمن القومي في المملكة المتحدة

According to BBC News,

Lord George Robertson, the former NATO secretary general, has issued a grave warning about the state of the UK’s national security, describing it as “in peril”. In a speech set to be delivered later today, he criticizes the government for what he terms “corrosive complacency” towards defense matters. This intervention comes as the UK government has faced scrutiny over delayed defense investment plans.

Robertson, who authored the government’s Strategic Defence Review (SDR), attributes part of the security issues to “non-military experts in the Treasury,” whom he accuses of committing “vandalism” against the UK’s defense capabilities. He emphasizes that the government has promised a 10-year investment plan to support the SDR, but the release of this plan has been repeatedly postponed.

In his speech, Robertson will highlight the inadequacies of Britain’s current defense posture, stating, “We cannot defend Britain with an ever-expanding welfare budget”. He will assert that the country is “underprepared, underinsured, and under attack”, warning that Britain is not safe, and that national security is at risk.

A government spokesperson has defended the current strategy, stating that the SDR is backed by the largest sustained increase in defense spending since the Cold War, with over £270 billion allocated during this parliamentary term. The spokesperson also mentioned a target to spend 3% of GDP on defense by the end of the next parliament.

This call to action follows increased pressure on NATO countries, including the UK, to bolster defense spending, particularly in light of geopolitical tensions such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Chief of the Defence Staff, Sir Richard Knighton, recently stated that the UK is facing one of the most dangerous periods in the last three decades, further underscoring the urgency of Robertson’s message.