The United Kingdom is preparing a plan to put the country on a wartime footing
12 April 07:19
The British government is developing a new version of a comprehensive plan to prepare the entire country—from the military and police to hospitals and industry—for wartime.
Air Chief Marshal Richard Knighton, Commander of the Royal Air Force, spoke about this in an interview with Sky News . According to him, authorities and citizens must prepare for actions by an adversary that is on the brink of war with Britain, rather than merely carrying out hybrid attacks, reports "Komersant Ukrainian".
The upcoming revision of the Government War Book, which has not been updated since 1976, will require the British to adopt a different approach to issues of national resilience, Nighton stated. According to him, the plan will draw on lessons from the Cold War, but “in a modern context, taking into account the state of contemporary society and infrastructure.” This includes ensuring the resilience of critical infrastructure, such as power plants and water supply systems, not only against natural disasters but also against the threat of war.
The previous version of the strategy contained detailed mobilization lists and guidelines for additional mobilization plans not only for the military but also for the civilian population and industry in the event of a crisis. It included instructions on closing schools, evacuating hospitals, implementing a ration card system for food distribution, and even ensuring the preservation of national treasures.
The civilian population must realize that the relative peace the UK has enjoyed for the past 30 years is under increasing threat, Knighton emphasized.
“This requires us to raise awareness; we must help the public understand the nature of these threats, as well as what people can do to support the country and potentially the armed forces,” the marshal stated.
Earlier, Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Defense Minister John Healey pledged to increase defense spending to 3.5% of GDP (currently just over 2%), but not before 2035.
