The United Kingdom’s top military officer has cautioned that a growing number of Britons may need to be willing to defend their country as global security threats intensify.
Speaking on Monday, Chief of the Defence Staff, Richard Knighton, said the world has become far more dangerous than at any other point in his career, stressing that the response must go beyond expanding military strength alone.
According to Knighton, the changing security landscape demands a nationwide effort, with citizens playing a more active role in strengthening the country’s defence and resilience.
He made the remarks during a speech at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), a leading defence and security think tank in London. There, he emphasised the need for stronger “national resilience” in response to what he described as an increasing threat from Russia.
Knighton said the situation requires more people to be willing to serve and, if necessary, fight for the country. He noted that while the size of Britain’s regular armed forces is expected to increase, authorities are also planning a significant expansion of the reserve forces and cadet programmes.
He added that more families may come to understand the sacrifices associated with national service, announcing £50 million in funding for new Defence Technical Excellence Colleges aimed at helping defence-related industries train skilled workers.
His comments followed similar remarks by France’s military leadership, which recently sparked debate by saying the country must be prepared for the human cost of conflict.
The warning from the defence chief came on the same day the new head of Britain’s foreign intelligence service, MI6, described the global environment as entering an “age of uncertainty.”
In her first public speech since assuming office, MI6 Chief Blaise Metreweli said Russia’s actions, particularly its war in Ukraine, have contributed significantly to rising instability. She accused Moscow of prolonging negotiations while shifting the burden of war onto its own population.
Metreweli warned that Russia is increasingly operating in what she called the “grey zone” — actions that fall short of open warfare but still undermine security. These include cyberattacks on critical infrastructure, disruptive activities near European airports, aggressive maritime behaviour, and covert acts such as state-backed arson.
She noted that modern threats are no longer limited to traditional battlefields, describing today’s challenges as a complex mix of military, technological, social and ethical risks that overlap and reinforce one another.
According to her, cyber interference, hybrid warfare, terrorism and information manipulation mean that the “front line” is now everywhere.
Metreweli, appointed in June as the 18th head of MI6 and the first woman to hold the position, is the only publicly identified member of the intelligence agency and reports directly to the UK foreign secretary.
The speeches coincided with Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to Berlin, where he held discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other European leaders on efforts to bring an end to Russia’s nearly four-year invasion of Ukraine.
Meanwhile, the UK Ministry of Defence has announced the creation of a new body, the Military Intelligence Services, designed to coordinate intelligence collection and sharing across the army, navy and air force. The ministry said the move reflects growing threats ranging from cyber warfare and satellite disruption to attacks on global shipping routes and the spread of disinformation.
