UK Defence Is a National Effort, Warns Armed Forces Chief
As Britain prepares to mark Remembrance Sunday, the head of the UK’s armed forces has issued a stark reminder about the nature of national security. Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, who stepped into the role of Chief of Defence Staff just this September, emphasized that defending the country is not a burden that should fall solely on the military. Speaking on the eve of this solemn day, he described the world as “increasingly uncertain” and urged society to grasp the stakes involved in maintaining the nation’s safety.
Sir Richard pointed to current global tensions, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as evidence that peace is never guaranteed. He stressed that the UK must always be prepared to defend itself, sometimes at great cost. The Chief of Defence Staff highlighted the wide-ranging roles of the armed forces—from deterring aggression along NATO’s eastern flank, to providing hurricane relief in the Caribbean, and safeguarding critical undersea infrastructure at home. Despite these efforts, he insisted that defence requires more than just military action. “It is a national endeavour,” he said, “requiring investment, innovation, and the support of a society that understands the stakes.”
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This message comes as Britain’s military faces challenges from decades of budget cuts, which have left the regular Army at its smallest size since the Napoleonic Wars. Yet, following the war in Ukraine, there is renewed momentum to strengthen the armed forces, with defence chiefs aiming to make the military more capable and lethal, backed by government plans to raise defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027.
The call for collective responsibility was echoed by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who expressed concern about declining public willingness to serve the country. She pointed to research suggesting that only 10% of 18- to 28-year-olds would be prepared to go to war for Britain. Badenoch linked this to what she described as a slow erosion of national pride in schools, institutions, and media, where the country’s story is too often framed negatively. She reminded listeners that Britain’s history includes standing against Hitler, fighting Soviet tyranny, and leading efforts to end global slavery. The country’s victories were not won alone, she said, but alongside Commonwealth forces who fought side by side to defend liberty and democracy.
Both Sir Richard and Mrs Badenoch underscored that national defence relies not just on soldiers, but on a society united by a shared understanding of its heritage and responsibilities. As Britain observes Remembrance Sunday, the message is clear: protecting the nation is a duty that belongs to everyone, not just those in uniform.
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