Britain says it must prepare for a potential war with Russia
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting told Polish officials in Warsaw that NATO must be ready for conflict despite Russian claims of peaceful intent.
By Rosa Wojcik ·
The United Kingdom and Poland held a joint defence briefing in Warsaw on October 27. The meeting focused on the current security threats facing the alliance.
UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting spoke alongside Polish Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz. Streeting stated that Vladimir Putin is currently testing NATO's resolve. He argued that the alliance must be ready for a scenario where it finds itself at war with Russia.
Streeting clarified that NATO is a defensive alliance. He said the UK has no quarrel with the Russian people and no desire for war. However, he noted that Putin's recent assurances of no intention to provoke a conflict mirror his statements made days before the invasion of Ukraine.
The secretary stressed that NATO is prepared to defend every inch of its territory. He linked this readiness to continued support for Ukraine. Streeting explained that higher readiness makes a direct conflict less likely.
The warning arrives as the UK launches a national campaign called Be Ready. This initiative prepares citizens for the impacts of climate change, technological dependency, and hostile states. New government guidance advises every Briton to stock nine litres of bottled water and three days' worth of food.
Streeting also identified state-sponsored terrorism as a key threat. He said hostile states may target civilian infrastructure. The UK government is integrating this defence posture into its broader national resilience strategy.
