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British Defence Minister Wes Streeting has warned that adversaries' military capabilities and war economies will reach a level by 2030 that would allow an attack on the United Kingdom, leaving the country just over 1,000 days to get ready for war.

Writing in The Telegraph, Streeting listed the threats facing Britain and said the government's task is to ensure the country is prepared to fight and win, working alongside its allies.

Threats facing Britain

In the article, Streeting argued that the growing use of technology points to a return to some of the dangers of the twentieth century. Among the threats listed were Russian violations of maritime borders, wars, sabotage, terrorism and interference affecting daily life.

Streeting said the job as defence minister is to keep the country safe, and that steps have been taken to make adversaries think twice before attacking the United Kingdom.

Criticism of the armed forces' funding

Streeting noted that the party that took power in 2024 inherited the smallest British army since the Napoleonic Wars of 1803-1815, and said the previous Conservative government had failed to fund the armed forces properly, with every weapons programme running over budget and behind schedule.

The ruling Labour Party will meet NATO defence spending targets, Streeting said, while acknowledging that the British military is still not where it needs to be despite recent progress.

Allies and the defence industry

Rebuilding the army matters as much as strengthening ties with allies, Streeting said, calling in particular for closer relations with NATO and the United States. "We must also restore our defence industry and be more creative than our enemies, and produce more," the minister wrote.

Streeting added that adversaries have long sought to harm Britain, and that what has changed is their capacity. "Their strength and their war economies will bring them by 2030 to the point where they can attack us, which gives us just over 1,000 days to complete our mission," Streeting wrote, saying Britain must be ready to fight and win with its allies and that the government is working to make sure the task is done.

Key takeaways

• Defence Minister Wes Streeting says adversaries will be capable of attacking Britain by 2030, leaving just over 1,000 days to prepare.
• Streeting cites Russian maritime border violations, sabotage, terrorism and interference among the threats facing the country.
• The Labour government inherited the smallest British army since the Napoleonic Wars and will meet NATO defence spending targets, Streeting says.
• Streeting calls for stronger ties with NATO and the United States and for rebuilding Britain's defence industry.