UK must prepare for war within 1,000 days, defense secretary warns
Britain must be ready to fight and win a war within the next 1,000 days as hostile states expand their military capabilities, Defense Secretary Wes Streeting has warned, saying potential adversaries could be capable of attacking by 2030.
In an article published in The Telegraph on Saturday, Streeting said Britain and its NATO allies had little more than three years to strengthen their defenses and prepare for a potential conflict.
“By 2030, their force strength and war economy could put them in a position to attack. That gives us a little over 1,000 days to complete our mission: to be ready with our allies to fight and win,” he wrote.
He said preparing for the worst was necessary to prevent it, describing national defense as his defining priority.
Government urges households to prepare for emergencies
The warning comes as the British government launches its “Be Ready” campaign, advising households to keep enough essential supplies to last 72 hours during a national emergency.
The guidance recommends storing bottled water, nonperishable food, cash and other necessities to help families cope with disruptions to essential services.
The government has said the initiative is intended to strengthen national resilience rather than respond to a specific intelligence warning.
Streeting also highlighted the growing risks posed by cyberattacks, organized crime, climate change and threats to critical infrastructure. Speaking to the BBC, he said Britain faced a level of danger greater than it had experienced for most, if not all, of his lifetime.
He argued that terms such as “hybrid warfare” and “grey zone threats” did not adequately communicate the seriousness of the challenges facing the country.
Cyber threats add to security concerns
The government’s warnings also point to the vulnerability of digital infrastructure, following a recent security incident involving PHP software that prompted governments and businesses to strengthen their systems.
The incident reportedly triggered millions of hacking attempts and forced some services offline, highlighting the potential consequences of weaknesses in widely used technology.
Streeting warned that cyberattacks could become more frequent as artificial intelligence gives attackers new ways to bypass traditional defenses.
He called on households and businesses to assess their preparedness and consider how they would respond to disruptions affecting everyday life.
UK expands emergency planning
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has also called for a more proactive approach to emergency preparedness. Speaking at a meeting on wildfire response, he said Britain had previously been “on the back foot” and announced a new plan that includes deploying military aircraft to tackle wildfires.
“It’s not about panicking. It’s about just taking sensible measures to have enough in the house to tide you over should there be a difficult situation,” Burnham told the BBC.
Britain’s guidance follows a similar initiative launched by the European Commission in March 2025, which urged citizens across the European Union to maintain emergency kits containing essential supplies for at least 72 hours.
The measures reflect growing official attention to civil preparedness as governments seek to strengthen their ability to respond to military, cyber and environmental emergencies.
