The UK Defence Committee expressed concern about the overstretched Armed Forces and how this is affecting their ability to prepare for all-out war. They warned that the military is consistently overstretched due to demands of operations, leaving little time for warfighting training. This could ultimately threaten the UK’s security, the committee reported.
The shortage in the capability and stockpile, as well as the recruitment crisis, present significant challenges for the government if it wants the UK to be ready for a high-intensity prolonged war. Efforts by the Ministry of Defence to tackle these problems have not been carried out at the required pace.
The committee urged ministers to ensure that the forces have the resources and training they need to fight and win a high-intensity prolonged war, emphasizing that readiness is essential to effective deterrence to adversaries. They also expressed frustration with the lack of government transparency and the slow response to their requests for information.
The Defence Committee’s concerns come at a time when the Defence Secretary has emphasized the need for the entire defence ecosystem to be prepared for potential conflict. This is particularly critical given the continued geopolitical instability. The committee suggested that the military needs to be given more focus and resources to address the current challenges.