Britain’s national security is assured “for now and for the next few years”, according to Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, who has stepped down as Chief of the Defence Staff.
In recent reports, Sir Tony pointed to the UK’s nuclear capability, NATO membership and close alliance with the United States as the foundations of his confidence. NATO, he said, remains “the biggest and strongest gun club ever.”
Sir Tony, who served as Britain’s top military officer from November 2021 until his retirement this week, also highlighted the significance of Western unity over the war in Ukraine. He described the group of nations supporting Kyiv as a “coalition of the willing” that extends far beyond the conflict itself.
“This is much more about European security, and providing reassurance to America that Europe is taking greater responsibility for its own defence,” he said.
Support for Ukraine
Sir Tony praised former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, alongside Liz Truss and then-Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, for their response to Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. Unlike the muted Western reaction to the annexation of Crimea in 2014, the UK acted swiftly, he argued.
“Were we going to do another Crimea and look the other way, or were we going to respond?” he said. “Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, Ben Wallace, philosophically, practically and politically, were clear that Britain’s role was to support Ukraine. I’ve had four prime ministers, and each has taken that same position.”
Russia’s Struggles
The admiral was equally blunt in his assessment of Moscow’s war effort, calling it a “disaster” for Vladimir Putin.
“If a snail had left Rostov-on-Don on 24 February 2022, it would have crossed Ukraine and be halfway through Poland by now,” he said. “That is how difficult Russia is finding it.”
China and Global Alliances
Sir Tony also dismissed suggestions of a new anti-Western “axis” forming between China, Russia and others, after images emerged of world leaders attending a vast military parade in Beijing earlier this week.
“A military parade is not an alliance,” he warned. “Nations coming together to fight and support each other requires trust and shared history. These countries do not have that.”
A Final Assessment
Reflecting on his tenure, Sir Tony struck a tone of cautious reassurance. Britain, he insisted, remains safe in the short term, protected by its nuclear deterrent and NATO allies. But his comments underscored the importance of continued vigilance as threats from Russia and beyond evolve.
