Petraeus: UK can be leader in modernising defences
A retired American army general has suggested Britain can be a leader in modernising its defence institutions around the new concept of warfare being pioneered by Ukraine.
David Petraeus was discussing the reality of modern, drone-led warfare and what can be expected in the near future in the presence of Andrew Murdoch, the Governor, during the Bermuda International Life and Annuity Conference on Tuesday.
“I was actually privileged to state that to the House of Lords,” he said, as he turned to acknowledge Mr Murdoch. “Actually, Governor, you will enjoy hearing [that] about four weeks ago, I gave an address to them.
“A lot of them are my old buddies you know, guys who were in uniform are now in the Lords. And I laid out to them that I think the UK is in the best position actually in the world for doing this for a variety of reasons.
“They have a unique number of boots on the ground. That’s publicly known that they have, and it's the only country that really has a lot of special operators, on the ground, learning.”
He suggested the Prime Minister has more latitude than the US president in getting legislative funding and Defence Department approvals to swap out legacy military weapons for next-generation arms.
He said there was already a British report that argued for change. Lord Robertson led the UK’s 2025 Strategic Defence Review, focusing on modernising and restructuring British military forces in response to growing global threats.
Mr Petraeus knew Lord Robertson when he was secretary-general of Nato, and the UK Secretary of State for Defence.
The report commissioned by the Prime Minister delivered more than 60 recommendations aimed at shifting the UK towards a war fighting mindset, addressing perceived underpreparedness, and tackling what Lord Robertson termed “corrosive complacency” in political leadership.
Lord Robertson publicly criticised the Government and the Treasury for delays in publishing a definitive defence investment plan, arguing that national defence must take priority over an unsustainably expanding welfare budget.
Mr Petraeus said that to respond to the Russian weapons upgrades, including jet-powered drones, “requires a degree of manufacturing agility that we (the US) just don't have”.
He argued that Western powers need “an entirely new, big idea about warfare that then drives massive changes to your force structure. Obviously, a lot of drone units, a lot of fewer manned systems. And then how you train, how you educate your leaders, what you buy, how you buy it.”
He said: “We use these exquisite, incredibly costly weapon systems, many of which are still required. Stealth, fighters, stealth bombers, still have a role. Obviously, missile defence has a very important role. But it's a truly different way of warfare. And we've got to get with the programme.”
• For The Strategic Defence Review 2025 — Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, see Related Media
You must be Registered or to post comment or to vote.
