New Cold War has arrived — and there’s one thing British people want that UK must do_L
Not only is this an extremely urgent moment, but Europe is being firmly told that we must face it on our own.
Buckle up. We have entered a new era of insecurity for which we are currently ill-prepared.
If the public were better informed — both about the looming genuine threats and the poor state of our defences—I believe there would be greater demand to spend more on Britain and preparing for war.
First, it is time for some hard truths. America’s relationship with the world, including Europe, are changing. Europe is now seen less as a traditional ally and more as a business partner — even an economic competitor.
President Trump is pursuing peace deals with our long-standing adversary, Vladimir Putin, regarding the future of Ukraine, yet seeks no part in their implementation. This is the new reality we face.
By appeasing Putin, Trump allows him to claim a form of victory and fight another day, while America shifts its focus to other global priorities. Consequently, Europe is left to confront this new Cold War with Russia on our own.
It is right that Britain is willing to step forward. History shows that we have consistently stood against dictators when others hesitated. Whether a peace deal is reached or not, unfolding events expose the alarming state of our armed forces. At the end of the Cold War, the British Army had five divisions.
Today, we would struggle to muster even one. The RAF once operated 36 fast jet squadrons; now, we have only six. The Royal Navy’s fleet of frigates and destroyers has plummeted from around fifty to just eight operational ships. Without a larger military, we would struggle to sustain any Ukraine
However, the most pressing threats we face today exist in the “grey zone” — attacks on our economy through cyber warfare, intellectual property theft, and the severing of undersea cables. These actions, often deniable, are already happening — perpetrated daily by Russia.
Let’s recognise — we have enjoyed relative security since the end of the Cold War. But those days are over.
Europe needs leadership, and Britain can lead. But only if we first upgrade our defence posture – as the British people are increasingly calling for.
