BRITS could face conscription if the UK goes to war with Russia because the “military is too small”, an army chief has warned.
General Sir Patrick Sanders, Chief of the General Staff, will stress the need for ministers to “mobilise the nation” in a speech today, amid the threat of World War 3.
General Sir Patrick Sanders is the outgoing Chief of the General Staff – the head of the British Army
He wants Brits to be prepared to defend the country in the event of World War ThreeGetty
With the British Army being reduced to its smallest size for centuries, Gen Sir Patrick, who has been openly critical of troop cuts, wants British men and women to be prepared for a call-up if NATO goes to war with Putin.
The army chief believes there should be a “shift” in the mindset of the public who should be willing to defend the UK against foreign adversaries.
He will make his plea to ordinary Britons at the International Armoured Vehicles Conference in Twickenham today, reports the Telegraph.
Gen Sir Patrick, who will stand down as Chief of the General Staff in six months, previously used a speech to warn that the UK was facing its “1937 moment” over the war in Ukraine.
He claimed Britain must be ready to “fight and win” to ward off the threat from Russia.
The introduction of conscription, were it to happen, would be the first time in over 60 years that Brits would be required to fight.
Mandatory military service was introduced during the First World War after the government passed the Military Service Act in 1916.
It comes as the prospects of World War 3 continue to grow with ongoing conflict around the world.
NATO announced its biggest call-up in decades as 90,000 troops prepare to begin World War 3 drills.
Among that number will be 20,000 British troops as the alliance plans to test allies on their ability to engage in conflict with an adversary as capable as Russia.
Steadfast Defender will begin this week and run to late May, involving units from all 31 NATO member countries plus candidate-member Sweden.
NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe, US General Christopher Cavoli, told journalists in Brussels of the groundbreaking news after a two-day meeting of national defence chiefs.
“The Alliance will demonstrate its ability to reinforce the Euro-Atlantic area by a transatlantic movement of forces from North America,” Cavoli said.
The wargames are meant as a fresh show of strength from NATO and its commitment to defend all allied nations from attack.
The UK continues to support Ukraine in their battle against Russia, however, with ministers announcing a further £2.5billion support package earlier this week.
But military strikes alongside the US against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have also raised concerns of all-out warfare.
Last week, a leaked military report revealed what could be Vladimir Putin‘s step-by-step plan to bring the West to the brink of World War 3 – and it starts in weeks.
The secret docs detail the despot’s possible “path to conflict” which reaches its climax in the summer of 2025 on “Day X” when half a million Nato and Russian soldiers will face each other.
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