UK Government Warns of Need to Prepare for Potential War Scenario

The UK government has warned that the country must be prepared for the possibility of facing direct threats, potentially in a wartime scenario. The national security strategy highlighted the current era of facing security threats and pointed to examples like Russia's war in Ukraine and Iranian hostile activities on British soil. The document emphasized the need for a collective effort to enhance the UK's security.

Released alongside a Nato summit, the strategy called for increased security spending to 5% of national income by 2035, focusing on core military and broader security expenditure. Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden outlined the strategy's goals of strengthening border security, enhancing alliances, and investing in areas like shipbuilding, nuclear power, and artificial intelligence. The government also plans to allocate £1bn for national biosecurity centres to defend against biological attacks.

The strategy highlighted the rising threats from other countries, including activities like assassination, espionage, cyber attacks, and disinformation campaigns. It stressed the importance of reducing dependence on external influences and safeguarding critical infrastructure like undersea cables.