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

Former NATO Leader Warns UK’s National Security Faces Threat

Senior government figure Lord George Robertson, who once led NATO, is set to critique the UK’s leadership for a perceived lack of urgency in defense matters. In a speech scheduled for Tuesday, he will highlight the country’s “corrosive complacency” and argue that national security is at risk. Robertson, known for authoring the Strategic Defence Review (SDR), will specifically target Treasury officials who he claims have hindered progress by “vandalism” in defense planning.

Defence Spending Delays Spark Concern

The government has pledged to release a 10-year defense funding blueprint to support the SDR’s goals but has postponed its unveiling multiple times. A spokesperson reiterated that the plan aligns with “the largest sustained rise in defence spending since the Cold War,” citing over £270 billion allocated across the current parliamentary session. However, Robertson will challenge this, stating that “defending Britain requires more than an ever-growing welfare budget.”

“We are underprepared. We are underinsured. We are under attack. We are not safe… Britain’s national security and safety is in peril.”

Political Intervention and Strategic Priorities

In Salisbury, the former Labour defence secretary will assert that political leaders are failing to address pressing threats. He will argue that despite acknowledging risks, there has been insufficient effort to foster a meaningful debate on defense. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer had earlier claimed the investment plan was “finalised” and on his desk, but Robertson’s remarks suggest lingering doubts about its readiness.

The UK’s defense spending target of 3% of GDP by the end of the next parliament remains a key focus. Yet, the nation faces scrutiny over its readiness for recent conflicts, such as the Middle East crisis that began on 28 February. Chief of the Defence Staff Sir Richard Knighton told the BBC last month that this period is “probably the most dangerous of the last 30 years,” though some have questioned the UK’s response to attacks on its military assets, including the drone strike targeting RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus.

Amid heightened tensions from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the re-election of US President Donald Trump, NATO members have been urged to increase defense commitments. Robertson’s intervention underscores concerns that the UK’s strategic preparedness may not match its international obligations.