Britain is already at war with Russia, according to a top defence adviser, who also warned that the UK can no longer rely on America’s military support—particularly under a future Trump presidency.
Dr Fiona Hill, a key contributor to the UK’s Strategic Defence Review (SDR), and a former Russia adviser to the White House during Donald Trump’s tenure, declared starkly: “Russia is at war with us.” The assertion comes amid intensifying concerns that the UK’s security infrastructure is ill-prepared for the threats posed by both Moscow and Beijing.
Dr Hill told The Guardian that Russia has been “menacing the UK in various different ways” for years, citing:
- Poisonings and assassinations on British soil
- Sabotage operations
- Cyber-attacks targeting institutions and infrastructure
- Covert interference, including tampering with undersea cables and surveillance around critical pipelines
“Russia has hardened as an adversary in ways that we probably hadn’t fully anticipated,” she said, underscoring that the threat is not looming—it’s here.
The SDR, co-authored by Dr Hill alongside Lord Robertson and General Sir Richard Barrons, paints a dire picture. It concludes that Britain’s armed forces are not combat-ready due to:
- Inadequate weapons stockpiles
- Medical facilities incapable of handling large-scale casualties
- A personnel crisis with too few troops ready for deployment
Defence Secretary John Healey addressed MPs last week, admitting: “We are in a new era of threat, which demands a new era for UK defence.” He added that Britain must become “10 times more lethal.”
Dr Hill warned that the United States is no longer a dependable ally, particularly under Donald Trump. She argued that the former president’s unpredictable style and personal ambitions render the traditional transatlantic military alliance increasingly obsolete.
“Not in the way that we did before,” she said, referring to the Cold War-era reliance on US support.
The SDR echoed this sentiment, stating: “The UK’s longstanding assumptions about global power balances and structures are no longer certain.”
Dr Hill criticised Trump’s fixation on cutting deals with Vladimir Putin: “The president really wants to have a separate relationship with Putin… for arms control agreements and also business that will probably enrich their entourages further, though Putin doesn’t need any more enrichment.”
She also warned of the culture wars taking hold in the UK, potentially mirroring the American political landscape.
Sir Keir Starmer attempted to counter concerns by unveiling a bold new military vision during a visit to the Govan shipbuilding yard in Scotland. His strategy includes:
- Expanding the army to 100,000 personnel
- Commissioning 12 new submarines
- Deploying advanced drones and AI technology
Starmer pledged to make the UK a “battle-ready, armour-clad nation.” Yet scepticism persists. He declined to commit to spending 3% of GDP on defence by 2034—something the SDR deemed essential to achieving any meaningful improvement.
Missile Warning and the Russia-Britain Conflict
General Sir Richard Barrons added urgency to the message, noting that a cruise missile could reach the UK in just 90 minutes. The chilling estimate further highlights how Russia is at war with Britain in all but name.
The phrase “Russia is at war with Britain” has become more than just a dramatic claim—it encapsulates the current reality of Britain’s geopolitical vulnerability.
Dr Hill didn’t hold back in warning of internal political risks. Speaking of Nigel Farage and the influence of Reform UK, she cautioned: “When Nigel Farage says he wants to do a Doge against the local county council, he should come over here [to the US] and see what kind of impact that has.”
She highlighted that the second Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) is fuelling mass redundancies in America—“the largest layoffs in US history”, she said.
With tensions escalating and the defence review painting a bleak picture, the UK must confront an uncomfortable truth: Russia is at war with Britain, and the old security certainties no longer hold.
The nation now faces a dual challenge—fortifying its own defence capabilities while navigating an increasingly unstable relationship with its closest historical ally.
