Former NATO secretary general George Robertson has warned that Britain’s national security is “in peril”, declaring that the UK is “not safe” under current defence arrangements.
In extracts of a speech reported by the Financial Times and BBC, Robertson accused Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government of “corrosive complacency” on defence. He said the Iran war should serve as a “rude wake‑up call” to the risks the UK faces.
“We are underprepared. We are underinsured. We are under attack. We are not safe,” the former Labour defence secretary was quoted as saying.
Robertson led a government‑commissioned review of Britain’s defence capabilities, published last year, and was expecting ministers to follow it with a 10‑year defence investment plan. That plan was meant to be released late last year but has yet to appear.
He told the Financial Times there was a gap between Starmer’s tough rhetoric on defence and the actions his government had delivered so far, accusing the prime minister of being “not willing to make the necessary investment”.
In a speech due in Salisbury on Tuesday night, Robertson was also set to criticise “non‑military experts” in the Treasury for what he called “vandalism”. He argued that while ministers acknowledge the “bright red signals of danger”, they have failed even to begin a promised national conversation about defence.
Starmer has pledged to raise UK defence spending to 2.5 percent of gross domestic product from next year, with a further increase to three percent in the next parliament.
The debate comes as Europe confronts continued Russian aggression and as US President Donald Trump presses NATO allies to spend more on defence.
A UK government spokesman said ministers are “delivering on the Strategic Defence Review to meet the threats we face” and insisted the defence investment plan will be published “as soon as possible”.
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