UK poised for swift action as Russia tensions rise
The British armed forces are ready to confront Russia in Eastern Europe if necessary, stated Rob Magowan, the Deputy Chief of the British Defence Staff.
The British Army is prepared for an immediate response in the event of an attack by Russia on an Eastern European country. "If the British Army was asked to fight tonight, it would fight tonight," said Rob Magowan during a House of Commons defence committee meeting.
"I don't think anybody in this room should be under any illusion that if the Russians invaded Eastern Europe tonight, then we would meet them in that fight," he added.
Will NATO invoke Article 5?
Finland and Germany reported on Monday the severing of an underwater cable between their countries. Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen emphasised that it is not yet known who or what was behind the incident, but the scenario that it is an element of hybrid actions by a hostile state is being taken "very seriously."
According to Valtonen, if it turns out to be sabotage, there may then be a need to invoke Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty (any attack on a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization should be interpreted by the other member states as an attack on themselves).
Concerns about the UK's military capabilities
Despite Magowan's resolute stance, there are concerns about the UK's military capabilities in the event of a conflict escalation. The British Army is the smallest it has been since the 1700s.
- Going into government in July, we expected things to be in a poor state – but the state of the finances, the state of the forces, was far worse than we thought - said Defence Minister John Healey at the end of October in an interview with the Politico podcast "Power Play."
Responding to a question regarding the assessment by General Roland Walker, the Commander of the British Army, who stated in July that the UK should be ready for armed conflict within three years, Healey admitted that the armed forces can currently conduct military operations but are not able to effectively conduct a war.
