British Army Chief says population must be prepared for times of war

The head of the British Army, General Sir Roly Walker, stated that the population of the United Kingdom will need to be prepared to make sacrifices to reinforce the country's defense in what he classified as a moment of "extreme danger" on the international scene.

In a speech to around 700 soldiers at the Catterick garrison in northern England, Walker said that the British will have to accept that preparing for a possible war will require not only more resources for the Armed Forces, but also the participation of society. According to him, political leaders should soon start a "frank conversation" with the population about the risks facing the country.

The speech was published by the Forces News portal, which specializes in the British Armed Forces.

"Citizens will have to consent to sacrifices to prioritize defense and security," said the general. He also said that the population will need to understand the role of the Armed Forces and support them if they are called to fight.

"Our country is going to need you," Walker told the soldiers. For him, the period in which the United Kingdom could avoid thinking about the possibility of its military being sent to war has come to an end. "The business of being a soldier is coming back into the national consciousness," he said.

The statement comes amid pressure on the British government to increase military spending, in the face of Russia's war against Ukraine and a broader assessment that the country is not prepared for a large-scale conflict. The government has committed to raising defense spending to 3.5% of national income by 2035, up from around 2.6% currently.

The discussion also involves a dispute over where the resources will come from. Defense Minister Wes Streeting recently stated that expanding the military budget will require "choices and trade-offs." The government already faces pressure to fill a gap of around £5 billion in defense investment planning. The government budget is scheduled for October 28th.

Walker stated that the population could be called upon to play a more direct role in preparing for a possible conflict. "They will need to understand what is happening in the world of defense and security and why this appears to be a very dangerous time," he said.

The alert also comes at a time of resistance from the population to a possible military mobilization. An Ipsos survey cited by the British press showed that half of Britons would not be willing, under any circumstances, to fight for the country.

At the same time, more than half support increased defense spending. Among those who support the increase, 37% prefer that the money be taken from other areas of the public budget, while 36% support a tax increase.

The capabilities of the British Armed Forces have also been questioned. According to recent reports, the Army does not have enough commanders to operate its main battle tanks, and military exercises have been canceled due to lack of resources.

In 2024, Walker's predecessor, General Sir Patrick Sanders, had already argued that the population would need to be prepared to be called up if the United Kingdom went to war, given the reduced size of the professional Army.

Walker stated that, in a land conflict, the burden of defending the country would fall mainly on younger and less experienced soldiers. "It is upon you that the defense of this nation will rest, if, in the end, you are called to fight," he told the soldiers.