Research by the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi) revealed that the Army, in addition to NATO allies, has a “critical shortage” of artillery and ammunition. Its findings led it to the conclusion that the UK would be unable to maintain a credible defence position in the event of a war.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) was quick to quell any fears, assuring that the UK’s close work with NATO is “well equipped to take on a leading role”.

The research is timely, coming just a week before NATO leaders come together in London to make the 70th anniversary of the alliance.

NATO was created just four years after the end of the Second World War, when western powers came together and colluded to provide collective security against the Soviet Union.

Now, the UK along, with other NATO members, has positioned its military forces in Eastern Europe to deter an potential Russian aggression.

This happened after Moscow ordered the annexation of Crimea in 2014 – much to the dismay of the global community.

In Estonia, around 800 British troops are stationed should Russia show aggression.

The first among them were deployed in 2017.

Despite the MoD’s assurances, the study by Rusi found that the UK armed forces outright caked critical firepower compared to Russia’s military.

JUST IN: Emmanuel Macron warned that EU-led army will never replace Nato

The thinktank analysed military capabilities in the “unlikely” context of “a high-intensity conflict between NATO and Russia, in which the UK has promised to deliver a warfighting division” to find the results.

The report said: “At present, there is a risk that the UK – unable to credibly fight – can be dominated lower down the escalation ladder by powers threatening escalation.”

It added that Britain is “comprehensively outgunned and outranged”, which would leave enemy artillery free to defeat UK units.

Russian weaponry has already proven to be a potent source of military might.

DON’T MISS

Russian subs in battle formation north of Scotland – is UK WAR READY? [LATEST]
EU divided: Merkel and Macron must BEHAVE and bury hatchet [UPDATE]
Merkel rages at Macron ‘I’m tired of picking up the pieces!’ [ANALYSIS] 

Its artillery and rocket batteries destroyed two Ukrainian battalions within a matter of minutes in 2014.

Compared to Russia, the UK and NATO only have a limited number of artillery pieces.

They also have a shortage of munition stockpiles and transportation.

The report urged that the “rejuvenation and modernisation” of Britain’s ground-based artillery is an “urgent and critical priority”.

The MoD responded to the report: “The UK does not stand alone but alongside its NATO Allies, who work closely together across air, sea, land, nuclear and cyber to deter threats and respond to crises.

“As the largest Nato defence spender in Europe, the UK’s armed forces are well equipped to take a leading role in countering threats and ensuring the safety and security of British people at home and abroad.”

Less than three weeks ago, France’s President, Emmanuel Macron, described NATO as “brain dead”.

He said he saw the organisation as waning in commitment to the transatlantic alliance by its main guarantor, the US.

The latest finding came just six months after the Commons spending watchdog, the Pubic Accounts Committee, claimed the MoD had a funding blackhole of at least £7bn in its 10-year plan to equip the UK’s armed forces.

Last year, a delegation of Russian military personnel watched one of Europe’s latest NATO exercises in Scotland.

The visit came about as the UK ensured it fulfilled its obligations as set out in the Vienna Document, that is, the promotion of mutual trust and transparency among states signed up to it.

Tensions between nations seem to be rising, with a number of other things combined with the report apparently giving way to old east-west feuds.

UN General Secretary Antonio Guterres recently claimed that the Cold War was “back with a vengeance.

He warned about the dangers of escalating tensions in Syria that has been torn apart by native insurgents, as well as vested interests from both the US and Russia.

Source: Read Full Article