UK defense chief warns military not ready to fight war or stop invasion

Britain’s Defence Secretary John Healey issued a stark warning on the state of the U.K.’s military readiness, stating that the armed forces would struggle to stop an invasion, and are not prepared for a large-scale war. Healey attributed these challenges to years of underfunding, which he says has led to critical shortages in personnel and equipment across all branches, especially the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force.

Speaking on Politico’s “Power Play” podcast, he said that while the U.K. military is proficient in operations, it currently lacks the resources necessary to effectively deter or engage in high-intensity conflicts.

“The U.K., in keeping with many other nations, has essentially become very skilled and ready to conduct military operations. What we’ve not been ready to do is to fight. And unless we’re ready to fight, we’re not in shape to deter,” Healey said.

He further emphasized that the U.K. must improve its deterrence capabilities to counter future aggression effectively.

The Ministry of Defence supports Healey’s concerns, noting severe personnel and equipment shortages across the board. The British army’s strength is projected to fall below 70,000 trained soldiers, and fewer than half of the Royal Navy’s destroyers and frigates are currently deployable. The army’s Challenger 2 tank fleet also shows signs of strain, with only 157 of 227 tanks operational.

In response, the Labour government has launched a defense review, aiming to boost spending to NATO’s recommended 2.5% of GDP. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has criticized the “hollowing out” of the military by previous administrations and pledged additional funding to reinforce the U.K.’s defense capabilities.

“Our forces need to be able to innovate,” Healey said. “We need to take new technologies and some of the lessons from Ukraine and make what we do more lethal and, therefore, a stronger deterrence.”

Both Healey and German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius have underscored the importance of Europe assuming greater responsibility for its own defense, particularly amid rising global tensions.