The U.K.’s military stands ready to take on Russia if the situation in Eastern Europe escalates, according to a senior defense official.
Rob Magowan, deputy chief of the British defense staff, told MPs on Thursday, “If the British Army was asked to fight tonight, it would fight tonight.” Addressing the House of Commons defense committee, he emphasized, “No one in this room should doubt that if Russia invaded Eastern Europe tonight, we’d meet them in that fight.”
These bold remarks came as lawmakers pressed Magowan on how quickly British brigades could deploy to NATO’s eastern flank in response to Russian aggression. Eastern European countries like Latvia and Estonia remain on edge, wary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, while Finland recently flagged potential sabotage of critical infrastructure. NATO’s collective defense policy ensures that an attack on one member is treated as an attack on all, further heightening the stakes.
However, questions about Britain’s military readiness linger. The U.K. Army is at its smallest since the 18th century, sparking concerns over its capacity to respond to a large-scale conflict. Defense Secretary John Healey recently described the state of the armed forces as “far worse than we thought” after the Labour Party took over government in the summer. In line with cost-cutting efforts, the U.K. announced the decommissioning of five warships and a dozen military helicopters and drones, even as a Strategic Defense Review is underway.
Magowan acknowledged the challenges, stating that the armed forces possess both “operational risks and operational strengths.” He also underscored the need for “more lethality” to effectively counter threats.
Despite these concerns, the British Army demonstrated its capabilities during a live firing test of the Archer Mobile Howitzer, a rapid-deployment artillery system. This test, part of NATO’s 12-day training exercise in Finland, showcases the U.K.’s commitment to collective defense and its readiness to respond to potential aggression.
