Get you up to speed: Former NATO Chief Warns UK’s National Security Is ‘At Risk’ and ‘Unsafe’
Former Nato secretary general Lord George Robertson warns that Defence Secretary John Healey’s lack of investment is endangering Britain’s national security.
Former Nato chief Lord George Robertson has publicly criticised the Labour government for underinvestment in defence, asserting that Britain’s national security is at significant risk.
Lord George Robertson will deliver a speech today warning that Britain’s national security is at risk due to delayed defence funding decisions by the government.
What we know so far
Former Nato secretary general Lord George Robertson has accused Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer of hindering essential defence investment, stating that such actions place Britain ‘in peril.’ Robertson, who served as defence secretary during the early 2000s, has labelled the government as ‘underprepared’ for potential attacks and articulated concerns over the nation’s safety.
In comments made to the Financial Times, Lord George expressed a significant disconnection between the Prime Minister’s rhetoric on defence and actual policy implementation. He condemned the government for failing to make the necessary investments in national security, stating that ‘we are underprepared. We are underinsured. We are under attack.’
Lord George’s statements coincide with the postponement of key actions outlined in the Strategic Defence Review, amidst warnings of a £28 billion funding shortfall within the military over the next four years. He is expected to emphasise the urgency of the situation in a speech today, drawing parallels with the ongoing conflicts in Iran and urging a reassessment of the UK’s defence strategy.
In response, a government spokesperson affirmed their commitment to the Strategic Defence Review and highlighted a record increase in defence spending, stating that over £270 billion will be invested throughout the current Parliament. Meanwhile, Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton has echoed concerns regarding the UK’s readiness, suggesting a need for an updated ‘war book’ to enhance civilian preparedness amid evolving threats.
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UK’s national security is ‘in peril’ and ‘we are not safe’, warns ex-Nato chief | News UK
Former Nato secretary general Lord George Robertson has accused Sir Keir Starmer of holding back defence investment, putting Britain ‘in peril.’
Robertson, a former Labour defence secretary and Nato chief in the early 2000s, criticised the government for being ‘underprepared’ for attack, claiming that the country is ‘not safe.’
He said the government and its approach to defence strategy has shown ‘corrosive complacency ‘ towards national security.
This is the first time Lord George, a key government adviser and the author of the Strategic Defence Review, which set out a bumping up of military spending to 3% of GDP before 2030, has criticised the Labour government publicly.
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Speaking to the Financial Times, Lord George said there was a gap between the PM’s words and action on defence.
He accused the Prime Minister of not being willing ‘to make the necessary investment.’
Lord George is expected to warn in a speech today that the Iran war ‘has to be a rude wake-up call.’
‘We are underprepared. We are underinsured. We are under attack. We are not safe … Britain’s national security and safety is in peril,’ he will say during the lecture in Salisbury.
His comments come after investment in carrying out the steps in the Strategic Defence Review has been postponed, along with warnings that the military faces a £28 billion funding black hole in the next four years.
Sources claim the MoD, Treasury and Downing Street have not been able to decide how to proceed with the defence funding.
Lord George will say today: ‘There is a corrosive complacency today in Britain’s political leadership. Lip service is paid to the risks, the threats, the bright red signals of danger – but even a promised national conversation about defence can’t be started.’
A government spokesperson said: ‘We are delivering on the strategic defence review to meet the threats we face.
‘It is backed by the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the cold war, with a total of over £270bn being invested across this parliament.’
The warning comes after another high-ranking official raised the alarm over the UK’s preparedness.
Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton said an updated version of the UK’s war book used in the Cold War and First World War era would mean people need to have a rethink about resilience.
The war book details essential information about what to do in a conflict, similar to Sweden’s updated war pamphlet published after increased Russian threats.
Meanwhile, Nato has been rattled after Donald Trump hinted that he might pull the US out of the military alliance.
The US president accused Nato of not being ‘there for us’ after starting the war in Iran.
What is the Strategic Defence Review?
The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) sets out the UK’s approach to defence policy and making the Armed Forces prepared for modern threats like cyber attacks and drones.
Authored by Lord George and overseen by Defence Secretary John Healey in 2025, the strategy aims to prepare Britain for ‘warfighting readiness’ due to changing threats like cyber attacks, Russian aggression, and drones and technology.
It also increases defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, and up to 3% in the coming years, alongside taking a ‘Nato first’ approach and making the entire British society more resilient to threats.