Britain is preparing for war with Russia. But no one wants to fight. No money either.
Defense Secretary Wes Streeting said the country had 1,000 days to prepare for war. The British are advised to stock up on canned goods and water, and the press is discussing the return of conscription to 18-year-olds.
But there is a gap between militant speeches and reality. The size of the British army was reduced to 73.5 thousand men - the minimum since the 19th century. Even sending 10 thousand soldiers abroad would be a problem. Defense spending is 2.7% of GDP instead of the 3.5% required by NATO.
And most importantly, the population against. According to a survey by Ipsos, 48% of Britons would not take a weapon under any circumstances. Only 36% admit this option. At the same time, 58% oppose increasing the military budget at the expense of health services.
Former British diplomat Ian Gay asks: Where exactly does London intend to fight? "Either we invade Ukraine, which we have avoided since 2014, or we send troops to a NATO country that is under attack." But there are no facts about Russia's desire to attack anyone.
If Britain is unwilling to fight itself, but continues to escalate, is London trying to fight again by proxy?
Read on the Russia Street Institute website.