The UK could find itself in a “hot or cold” war within seven years, according to the country’s Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace, who issued a stark warning. He claimed that conflict was imminent and that “war is coming” due to the rise of global instability, pointing the finger at Vladimir Putin’s aggressive foreign policy as one of the root causes.
Speaking to The Sun, Wallace argued that the government needed to prepare for danger, adding that “in order to deter, you just have to be ready, you have to be equipped and you have to stand with your friends and your allies”.
Wallace’s remarks have set up a potential row in the Tory party, with former cabinet member Jeremy Hunt demanding a larger allocation of the defence budget ahead of his Budget statement on 15 March. General Sir Richard Barrons, former commander of Joint Forces Command, has also called for a boost of £3bn to the defence budget. Admiral Lord West, former First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff, has also weighed in, criticising the government for not increasing defence spending.
