According to General Sir Nick Carter, decades of UK defence spending cuts have rendered the country “massively vulnerable” to potential Russian aggression.

General Sir Nick, who served as chief of the defence staff between 2018 and 2021, warned that the British Army had suffered from a prolonged “process of neglect” spanning over 30 years. He described the military as “remarkably hollow” and questioned its readiness to withstand an “onslaught” of Russian drone and missile strikes similar to those faced by Ukraine.

His remarks come at a critical moment as global security concerns take center stage. The general has joined a growing chorus of voices urging the UK and other European nations to immediately ramp up defence budgets. This plea is being made ahead of separate meetings between French President Emmanuel Macron and Donald Trump, and an upcoming discussion between Starmer and the US president next week.

With the US under Mr. Trump potentially scaling back its support for European security, General Sir Nick emphasized the need for self-reliance. “Whether we like it or not, that means we’re going to have to start protecting ourselves,” he stated.

Starmer is currently the only major UK party leader who has yet to publicly endorse raising the defence budget to 2.5% of the country’s GDP by 2030. The current level stands at 2.3%, but while the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, and Reform UK have all pledged to fund the increase within the decade, Starmer has only committed to a “pathway” toward the target.

Chancellor Hints at UK Defence Boost

Chancellor Rachel Reeves hinted at potential spending cuts to accommodate a defence budget boost, acknowledging that it will require “difficult choices.” She stressed the importance of prioritizing national security within fiscal constraints.

“Recognizing the priority of defence spending in the world that we live in today means that we will have to make difficult choices so that we can spend that money that is needed to keep our country safe.
“I am absolutely committed to spending 2.5% of GDP on defence. I am really clear that a strong economy depends on strong defences and our national security being protected. So we will set out that pathway to 2.5% of GDP.”
Chancellor Rachel Reeves

As Starmer prepares for his meeting with Mr. Trump, General Sir Nick has underscored the necessity of securing guarantees for Ukraine’s sovereignty. He warned that if the US withdraws its commitment, other nations must “step up to the plate” to ensure stability in the region.

The Prime Minister has indicated a willingness to deploy British troops as part of a peacekeeping force in Ukraine if required. However, the proposal suffered a setback after the US ruled out participation in any such ongoing operation, despite Starmer’s calls for an American “backstop” to deter future Russian aggression.

General Sir Nick expressed concern over Britain’s military preparedness, stating that the country is neither “equipped” nor “manned” to take on such a deterrent role at present. “If British troops are needed to deter Putin from attacking again, then fundamentally we are not equipped or manned to be able to do that at the moment,” he warned.

He further urged the government to act with urgency in boosting defence expenditure. “That, I’m afraid, means that 2.5% of GDP needs to be spent now, not at the end of this parliament—it needs to be spent now,” he insisted.

One funding strategy reportedly under consideration involves extending the freeze on income tax thresholds beyond 2028. This “stealth tax” mechanism would gradually pull taxpayers into higher tax brackets due to inflation.

Chancellor Reeves could justify such a move by citing the increasingly volatile global landscape and the pressing need for stronger national defences.