LONDON – The United Kingdom began large-scale preparations for a potential war and announced plans to end its long-standing reliance on the United States for defence, said British Armed Forces Minister Colonel Eschat Carns.
In an interview, the minister warned that “the shadows of war are knocking at Europe’s door,” stressing that Britain must be fully prepared for emerging security threats.
He revealed that hostile intelligence activities targeting the UK have increased by more than 50 percent over the past year, calling the trend deeply concerning.
The statement comes at a time when NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has warned European allies to prepare for the possibility of a major confrontation with Russia, cautioning that any such conflict could be of an intensity not seen since the First and Second World Wars.
Carns urged NATO member states to significantly increase defence spending to strengthen collective security, warning that existing arrangements are no longer sufficient in the face of growing global tensions.
He acknowledged that for the past five to six decades, Britain had effectively outsourced its defence to the United States. However, he said this approach must now be abandoned, emphasizing that the UK must take primary responsibility for its own national defence and reduce dependence on Washington.
According to a news agency report, the British government has also announced the establishment of a new Defence Counter-Intelligence Unit, aimed at enhancing the country’s ability to detect, counter, and neutralize espionage activities by hostile states.
