Former NATO Chief Warns UK's National Security 'In Peril'

Lord George Robertson, former NATO Secretary General and key adviser on the UK's Strategic Defence Review (SDR), has publicly warned that the country's national security is at risk due to political complacency.

Speaking in Salisbury on 14 April 2026, he accused the UK government of being underprepared and underinsured against current threats.

Lord Robertson criticised "non-military experts in the Treasury" for what he described as "vandalism" affecting defence funding.

He highlighted repeated delays in publishing the promised 10-year defence investment plan intended to support the SDR's objectives.

The government maintains it is delivering the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War, with over £270 billion allocated across the current parliamentary term.

A spokesperson emphasised the commitment to spend 3% of GDP on defence by the end of the next parliament.

This warning comes amid heightened security concerns following Russia's invasion of Ukraine and ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.

The UK, alongside other NATO members, faces pressure to enhance defence readiness and investment.

Lord Robertson described a "corrosive complacency" within Britain's political leadership, noting that despite recognising risks and threats, meaningful national discussions on defence have yet to commence.

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