The UK stated that it planned to strengthen its “hollowed-out” armed forces to make sure it was ready to face what the head of the defence review called a “deadly quartet,” according to The Straits Times.
The government appointed George Robertson, former NATO secretary general, on 16 July to lead a review of Britain’s armed forces and report back in the first half of 2025. By “deadly quartet,” he was referring to China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia.
Robertson, who led NATO from 1999 to 2003, stated that the armed forces must be ready to fight, given the level of threat.
We’re confronted by a deadly quartet of nations increasingly working together, and we in this country, and the NATO alliance that met so successfully last week, have got to be able to confront that particular quartet, as well as the other problems.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer reiterated his commitment to raise defence spending to 2.5 per cent of gross domestic product at a NATO summit in the United States days after being elected.
However, he did not specify a timeline for fulfilling the pledge. Robertson stated:
The NATO summit last week in Washington made it perfectly clear that the challenge of China was something that had to be taken very, very seriously indeed.
Fiona Hill, a former US presidential adviser and foreign policy expert, will also oversee the review, along with retired General Richard Barrons, formerly Commander of the Joint Forces Command.
