Keir Starmer Criticized by Former NATO Leader for “Dangerous Complacency” and Warned of UK’s National Security Threat
A former NATO leader has sharply criticized Prime Minister Keir Starmer for his “dangerous complacency” and warned that the UK’s national security is “under threat.” Lord George Robertson, the former NATO Secretary General, accused Starmer of failing to make the necessary investments to protect the United Kingdom.
In a speech scheduled for Salisbury today, Robertson will say: “We are not adequately prepared. We are not fully covered. We are under attack. We are not safe… The security and safety of the UK is at risk.”
Robertson, who served as NATO Secretary General from 1999 to 2003, also took aim at “non-military experts in the Treasury” for engaging in what he described as “sabotage.” He continued, warning that there is a “dangerous complacency” among political leaders in the UK, with discussions about risks and threats remaining superficial. “Even a national dialogue on defense, which has been promised, hasn’t even begun,” he said.
In an interview with the Financial Times, Robertson also pointed to the “increasing welfare budget” as one of the reasons why the UK cannot “adequately protect itself.”
The government’s Defence Strategic Review (SDR), published last June, promised the largest and most sustainable increase in defense spending since the Cold War, with more than £270 billion earmarked over the course of the parliamentary term. However, the Defence Investment Plan (DIP) has yet to be approved, as highlighted by opposition leader Kemi Badenoch during Monday’s session in the House of Commons. She criticized the lack of progress, urging the government to increase defense spending before the current parliamentary term ends.
While Keir Starmer had previously stated that the DIP was “being finalized,” the ongoing delay in securing the investment needed for national defense has raised significant concerns about the UK’s ability to address emerging threats in an increasingly volatile global landscape.
