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Britain needs to be prepared to make sacrifices to defend the country, the head of the Army has warned.
General Sir Roly Walker revealed how the UK responds to threats will be laid out in a ‘frank discussion’ between political leaders and citizens.
The Chief of the General Staff (CGS) was addressing 700 newly qualified troops when he offered a rare insight into plans to prepare for direct conflict.
Sir Roly praised the soldiers and called on UK citizens to recognise what must be done to ensure Britain is ready for such an eventuality.
His intervention came as Labour continues to put off committing to defence spending targets.
How much Britain invests in its armed forces is expected to plateau around its present level of 2.7 per cent of GDP for the remainder of the decade – despite calls for spending to reach 3.0 per cent by 2030.
This country has until 2035 to meet the Nato defence spending benchmark of 3.5 per cent.
Hitting that second target is expected to require additional funding of around £25billion per year.
The Mail has led calls for the armed forces to receive a spending boost as part of the paper's Don't Leave Britain Defenceless campaign.
General Sir Roly, the head of the British Army, was praised by retired commanders for offering a reality check about the need to prepare for direct conflict.
Seen here at a recent military conference in Norway, General Sir Roly is responsible for the Army's contribution to UK security.
Sir Roly made his speech as UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting (left) held talks with US War Secretary Pete Hegseth (right) intended to sure up America's support for Ukraine.
Sir Roly said: ‘You didn’t know this but our nation is going to need you. There was a time when our nation did not want to think of a time when it would need its soldiers to fight in a war.
‘Indeed, very soon, the political leaders of this country will start to have a frank conversation with the citizens of this country about just what is going on and where the risk lies.
‘They are going to try and explain to our citizens that our citizens have got to consent to sacrifices to prioritise defence and security.
‘And then they are going to ask those citizens, to whom we are not necessarily at the front of their mind, that they too need to play a part in the defence and security of this country.’
The CGS stole a march on Defence Secretary Wes Streeting, who was in the United States when he made his speech.
Weakening US support for Ukraine and for western Europe will inevitably influence Vladimir Putin’s decision regarding whether Russia tests Nato’s defences.
Previously, no UK politician or military chief has been as explicit about the likelihood of direct conflict and its consequences for the nation.
Sir Roly continued: ‘So they [British citizens] need to understand what we do for them. They need to consent to allow us to do that, which means sacrifices by them.
‘Ultimately we are going to need them to back us. To back you to do the one thing that you do that nobody else gets to do, and that is to take the fight to the enemy.’
The CGS’s address came days after an Ipsos survey found 51 per cent of people want more money to be spent on the armed forces but only 36 per cent are willing to fight for their country themselves.
Those backing more investment have been rising since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Then, only 28 per cent thought spending should rise. Those willing to bear arms has remained unchanged.
The survey found nearly one in three persons would support a reduction in welfare spending, including universal credit and pensions, to fund the move.
Last night, Lord Dannatt, a predecessor of Sir Roly as CGS, offered support, saying: ‘[He] is being as clear as a serving general can be that we are facing serious challenges to security both abroad and at home.
‘Sir Roly is inviting the government to take the lead that they should. They need to explain to the population what the threats are. But they refuse to do so. Why? Because the logical next step is to increase the defence budget.
‘But the Prime Minister places social security above national security. So the issue will be ducked at the Budget. What about community and individual resilience? They should be up front. People need to be a little scared before they will take steps to get prepared.’
To the despair of defence chiefs, Chancellor John Healey has put off setting out a pathway to the UK meeting Nato’s 3.5 per cent of GDP defence spending target until next year.
That despite citing the failure to do so as a reason behind his decision to resign his previous appointment as Defence Secretary as part of Sir Keir Starmer’s government.