Is Britain prepared to fight a war?

The Bunker – News without the nonsense

Podmasters

News, Society & Culture, Politics, Government

4.6 • 1K Ratings

🗓️ 21 March 2024

⏱️ 24 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Is Britain moving into a “pre-war world”, as Defence Secretary Grant Shapps warned in January? Could we fight a land war or other conflict with Russia if we had to? Are we prepared militarily, economically and psychologically? And what would we have to do to make ourselves secure? RUSI European Security Research Fellow Edward R. Arnold tells Ros Taylor some uncomfortable home truths about NATO, our European allies, and our ability to defend ourselves. • “Our forces are quite underprepared. Two years ago it was assessed the British army has enough artillery to fight for a week – the German army for only two days.” – Edward R. Arnold • “War between NATO and Russia would look very different from the war with Russia and Ukraine. Offensive operations are far more complicated than defensive operations.” – Edward R. Arnold • “The risk of Britain going to war with Russia as a part of NATO is certainly there, either deliberately or accidentally with Russia by the end of the decade.” - Edward R. Arnold Written and presented by Ros Taylor. Producer: Eliza Davis Beard. Audio editor: Robin Leeburn. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.   Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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1:14.0	We're living in a pre-war world, the Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said recently.
1:19.0	Are we? And is Britain's kit up to the job?
1:22.0	With me to discuss whether Shapps was right. and is Britain's kit up to the job.
1:23.0	With me to discuss whether Shaps was right is Ed Arnold of the Royal United Services Institute.
1:28.0	He's been an infantry officer in the Army and after that he worked in security and defense.
1:33.4	Welcome to the bunker ed.
1:34.8	Thank you and thank you for having me.
1:36.8	I want to unpack Shaps' words a bit because it's always a pre-war world somewhere
1:41.6	sadly. The flash points at the moment are Taiwan, the Middle East and
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