Should the British prepare for war? The distressing question was asked bluntly by the Army Chief of Staff, General Patrick Sanders, a few days ago. The UK should form “a citizen army” in the event of open conflict between the Atlantic Alliance and Russia, the senior officer suggested during a speech in London on January 24. This statement from a departing general (he will retire next summer) sparks an unprecedented debate in a country which ended conscription in 1960.
The UK should follow the Swedish example and take “preparatory measures to place our societies on a war footing”, explained Sir Patrick Sanders. Such action is “not only desirable, but essential”, he added. Sweden has just reintroduced a form of military service. Downing Street has denied working on such a scenario, calling it “ hypothetical ». The British Ministry of Defense also distanced itself from the general’s comments, insisting on the “proud tradition of volunteers” of the British army.
Despite these denials, General Sanders’ alarmist remarks were relayed by Richard Shirreff, former deputy commander-in-chief of NATO, who felt that it was time “to think the unimaginable” And “to carefully study conscription, even if (…) it goes against the culture of the British army, traditionally made up of professionals”. A return to conscription “should not be excluded” also judged retired Colonel Tim Collins, as did Penny Mordaunt, the current leader of the House of Commons and former defense minister, who supported the creation of a “civil defense force”, on January 30. On a less serious but equally martial note, even former Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was ready to get involved. “Sign to defend my king and my country? Yes my commander! “, he claimed in his weekly column at DailyMail.
Recruitment difficulties
A few weeks before the presentation of the budget by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt (and a few months before the general election), this type of declaration is not without ulterior motives when the United Kingdom devotes 2.1% of its gross domestic product (GDP) to defense and the Secretary of State for Defense, Grant Shapps, has assured want to increase these expenses to 2.5% of GDP ” as soon as possible “, but without committing to a deadline. “Sir Patrick Sanders points out a contradiction: if, as the defense minister acknowledges, the world has become more dangerous and Western democracies face aggressive regimes, then why not react immediately? Because our armed forces have been seriously weakened and are not able to face these new threats,” summarizes Andrew Dorman, specialist in security issues at King’s College London.
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