PENNY Mordaunt has warned Britain will pay a “terrible price” if we fail to stand up against a war-hungry Vladimir Putin.
The former UK Defence Secretary told The Sun that the UK must “wake up” to the looming Russian threat and bolster our defences – before it’s too late.
GettyBritish soldiers practice an assault on February 17, 2025 in Smardan, Romania[/caption]
AFPThe British aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth[/caption]
GettyBritain’s F-35B Lightning II new supersonic ‘stealth’ strike fighter flies over the North Sea[/caption]
PASir Keir Starmer has already committed an additional £3billion to Britain’s defence budget[/caption]
Ms Mordaunt warned the entire country must prepare for a war against Putin’s forces – and the horrors Russia may unleash against Britain.
The former Tory MP welcomed PM Keir Starmer‘s £6billion military cash boost with 2.5 per cent of GDP spent on defence by 2027.
But Ms Mordaunt warned that it’s not enough – and we should be aiming for 3 per cent of GDP now to be able to be ready for war.
She warned if Britain fails to deter Putin from invading the Baltics by bolstering defence even further, we will pay a “terrible price”.
Ms Mordaunt told The Sun: “What we lack is the political will.
“We need to wake up and recognise if we fail to bolster defence we will pay a terrible price.”
The UK and Europe have been shocked into action after Donald Trump suggested the US will no longer act as our backstop for defence.
And Ms Mordaunt said while increasing the budget for defence is a “step in the right direction” now is the time to do more – and quickly.
She warned: “This moment has given us the opportunity to do the right thing.
“If we don’t recognise that opportunity and take it, our children will pay a terrible price.
“The government needs to deliver what is required.”
She warned that the UK has gaping holes in its defences including a lack of a sophisticated missile defence system that would defend against Russian rockets.
Ms Mordaunt said Britain needs the entire nation to be ready for war – and for preparations to be second nature to Brits if Russia launched attacks on the UK.
The former Tory MP told The Sun: “We need a whole of society approach to this.
“Would you know what to do if our ability to communicate was destroyed?
“Just as local people know the drill if it floods or grit needs to go down, we should prepare them for the kinds of harm Russia may consider using against us.”
Defence chiefs have warned that Putin wouldn’t start with launching missiles at Europe.
Instead, it would start with targeting undersea cables and cutting our internet, setting fires at aircraft facilities as part of their bid to destabilise Britain and Europe.
GettyBritish soldiers at a Nato practice assault in Smardan, Romania[/caption]
GettyBritish soldiers practice retreat under fire during an exercise[/caption]
GettyFormer UK defence secretary Penny Mordaunt[/caption]
AFPPutin will launch a slew of sabotage attacks to destabilise Britain and Europe[/caption]
She said if Europe as a whole steps up to the looming Russian threat, it will deter Russia from ever wanting to test the waters.
And it would mean that Trump is less likely to back out from helping defend Europe with his mighty military and next-generation capabilities.
Ms Mordaunt added: “Trump and his predecessors have all said we need to step up and they are right.
“If we do, I believe the US will want to stay involved in European defence.
“We must be able to generate the kinds of capabilities we need in the future at speed.
“That means we have to support innovation while mending the fragility of our current equipment and all that requires long-term funding commitment.
“And perhaps most importantly we need to retain the high-skilled people – they make the real difference.”
And Ms Mordaunt says Britain must generate the modern capabilities we need to fight against Putin at speed and recognise how “fast threats can change”.
That would mean focusing on new technologies like investing in drone warfare, which has been a key part of the Ukraine war.
She told The Sun: “If we are ready to respond, we lessen the chance of aggression.
“That means we have to support innovation while mending the fragility of our current equipment.
“Technology and the changing shape of warfare means that that will look different in the future.”
Fixing black holes
THE MoD has refused to say how it will spend its extra £6billion a year as it waits to release a review on how to reshape UK forces.
A chunk will help plug a £17billion black hole in the existing plan to buy ships, jets and tanks.
Some will go on replacing kit and munitions donated to Ukraine, and more will be lost to repairing creaking facilities and infrastructure, including soldiers’ homes.
However Malcolm Chalmers from the RUSI think tank hailed the PM’s announcement.
He said the pledge to hit three per cent in the next parliament will help defence chiefs transform “how our military fights”.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly called it “excellent” and a “great leadership step” in a call with his UK counterpart.
Afghan veteran Mike Martin said the first priority will be to “make sure what we have got works”.
When it comes to new kit and equipment, the Lib Dem MP for Tunbridge Wells said chiefs will focus on “how we do collective defence without the Americans”.
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