#adm-sir-ben-key

#adm-sir-ben-key

Attempting to eke out the remaining oil and gas from the North Sea was not the answer to the challenges facing the UK. It will not bring down the price for consumers, nor will it deliver long-term energy security. The international markets will determine the price and destination; that is not energy independence.

Hegseth asked General Randy George, who was just over halfway through his slated tenure as Army chief of staff, to step down and retire immediately, a Pentagon official told us.

Bases in Erbil where UK and allied troops are stationed and Baghdad were struck a number of times on Wednesday night, according to Brigadier Guy Foden, in what is the third attack on British forces since the conflict began.

For several weeks now, we've been bolstering our presence and the forces in the [region]—this statement from Chief of the Defence Staff Sir Richard Knighton reflects the military's acknowledgment of preparedness efforts, yet the sudden escalation demonstrated gaps in readiness despite these ongoing measures to strengthen British military capabilities in the Middle East.

There was a feeling that the prime minister had to be dragged there. It obviously reflects badly in the eyes of the Gulf Cooperation Council. This response has caused unease among strategic partners, with some officials voicing concerns that London was slow to commit military assets and lacked visible presence following drone and missile activity affecting the eastern Mediterranean.

The GREAT and very BRAVE soldiers of the United Kingdom will always be with the United States of America! It's a bond too strong to ever be broken.

Through the early years of our careers, Europe was emerging from the shadow of the cold war. Governments of all political colours chose to take what was known as the peace dividend investing in public services and reducing spending on defence. That was an understandable choice at the time. Now it's clear that the threats we face demand a step change in our defence and security.

"To me, it feels like 80% of the job of an infantryman is exactly the same and probably exactly the same as it was in a Napoleonic era," he said. "You need to be fit. You need to be strong and robust. You need to be able to survive in the field. You need to be able to dig a hole."

the AI-capable equipment includes radios, headsets, display tablets, cables, batteries, pouches, and antennas.

The Prime Minister has been told he is making Britain look "unreliable and weak" after reportedly denying US forces access to British bases. This move could impact potential strikes on Iran and influence international perceptions. Military leaders' warning about the decision underscores the seriousness of the situation, encouraging the audience to recognise the importance of strong defence policies for national safety.

PA Media Army chief Sir Richard Knighton has said the UK is "not as ready as we need to be for the kind of full-scale conflict we might face", as he avoided questions about a reported shortfall in the government's defence spending plans. Last week, The Times and The Sun reported that the Ministry of Defence believes it will need an additional 28bn to meet its costs over the next four years, prompting a rewrite of the government's defence investment plan. The plan was due in the autumn of last year but has been delayed. Speaking to the parliamentary Defence Committee, Sir Richard said he could not provide a date for publication but added that the department was "working flat out" on it.

The current Government is about to take a billion pounds out of the Army this year, so I don't think we can sustain it and actually no one is fooled by it. We would be very stretched. We have a deployment in Estonia. We need to spend real money now, not in 2029, not in 2030, 2040. The OBR itself said that the British Government had not set out a path to 3.5% of GDP by 2035.

The Arctic is strategically vital - packed with shipping lanes and untapped resources. Britain is sending a clear warning to Moscow and rivals: stay out or face serious consequences. The warships will exercise with NATO partners, boosting readiness and deterrence against any threats. Analysts say this raises the stakes in Arctic geopolitics and proves Britain can project power far from home waters.