The UK is already locked in a ‘hybrid war’ with Russia, according to a former head of the British Army who has delivered a stark warning about the future threat posed by Vladimir Putin.
Lord Richard Dannatt, ex chief of the general staff, has urged Prime Minister Keir Starmer to ramp up defence spending as tensions escalate. He believes the Government has just two years to prepare for further Russian aggression, citing cyber attacks and mysterious Russian ships as evidence that hostilities have already begun.
A War in the Shadows
Speaking to Sky News, Lord Dannatt cautioned: “Many people would say that the cold war, if you like, or the hybrid war has already begun.”
His remarks come amid growing pressure on Starmer to prioritise defence funding, with former US President Donald Trump suggesting NATO nations should be targeting 5% of GDP for military spending.
Lord Dannatt stressed that Chancellor Rachel Reeves must not underestimate the threat from Russia, calling Putin a “proven aggressor” who could strike again once the war in Ukraine cools down.
“Yes, of course, growth is what the Government wants,” he said. “But frankly, we are standing in danger against a proven aggressor in Vladimir Putin. Military experts say we probably have two or three years to increase our defence spending and sort out our defence capability. When the Russians have reconstituted themselves, we must be in a position to deter any future aggression.”
Lessons from History
Drawing a chilling parallel with the lead-up to World War Two, Lord Dannatt warned that Britain’s reluctance to bolster its military could be a grave mistake.
“Just look at the situation in 1935 when Britain was spending less than 3% of GDP on defence while the new German Führer was threatening bloody vengeance on Europe,” he said.
“Once war broke out in 1939, when Neville Chamberlain was prime minister, that surged to 19%. That shot up again to 46% a year later, when Winston Churchill was in power and we were fighting for our very survival. That is the disastrous, gargantuan cost of fighting a war.”
The Russian Threat is Already Here
For Lord Dannatt, the evidence of this hybrid war is already clear.
“We’re seeing cyber attacks, we’re seeing spooky Russian ships dibbling around looking for our cables to cut or intercept our communications,” he said. “So pressure from Russia is already there.”
Meanwhile, the debate over UK defence spending continues. Lord Dannatt pointed out that during the Cold War, the UK spent around 5% of its GDP on defence, which, he argued, “stopped it turning hot.” He criticised the Government’s reluctance to commit to raising the defence budget to 2.5% as “ludicrous.”
With global tensions rising and Russia showing no signs of backing down, the question remains: will Britain take action before it’s too late?
