The United Kingdom has an "army resembling a Potemkin village," which will not withstand a major European war.
This is reported by the Financial Times, citing military representatives.
"British military leaders privately say that their forces will have difficulty waging a European war that lasts more than a few weeks," the article states.
In a special report recently submitted to Prime Minister Starmer, it is stated that "Britain has an army resembling a Potemkin village, maintaining the symbols of a pocket superpower, but lacking the necessary capabilities."
"The UK's armed forces lack the mass, resilience, and internal cohesion to conduct a prolonged high-intensity war. Without a missile defense system, the country’s critical infrastructure is highly vulnerable… The army is smaller than it has ever been since the Napoleonic Wars, the navy cannot afford adequate strike power for its flagship aircraft carriers, and Royal Air Force pilots are deprived of flight training due to budget constraints," the report paints the picture.
The authors suggest significantly increasing defense spending over several years.