Russia, China and Iran more lethal than Nazi alliance, warns ex-Army chief

The former Chief of the General Staff has warned "the new Axis powers" of Russia, China and Iran pose a more lethal challenge than the Nazi alliance at the start of the Second World War.

In an interview with The Times, General Sir Patrick Sanders said the countries are "more interdependent and more aligned than the original Axis powers were", and warned that force modernisation is required to deter an attack on Nato soil.

The report suggested a hot war with Russia and its allies "isn't inevitable", but Gen Sanders described estimates of between five and 10 years before Russia recapitalises and can pose the same threat to Nato as it has to Ukraine.

• Sitrep: Nato is 75 years old – and the alliance has never felt closer to war
• AI can unlock the superpower potential of Nato – but what are the difficulties?
• Rutte confirmed as new Nato Secretary General as Stoltenberg leaves after 10 years

That is unless the UK and partners significantly re-arm and modernise.

The general added that, before then, Vladimir Putin may order operations "just below the level of conflict" or "seize some territory opportunistically".

He added: "If we take the right steps now if we address the threats and gaps we have in our capability, if we modernise our Armed Forces, if we make society and the UK more resilient, that's how we prevent it.

"If we do that, it's a low likelihood. If we don't, it increases the probability and it encourages Russia, China and Iran.

Having recently stepped back from his role as head of the British Army, he praised the UK's ability to defend against terror and cyber threats, citing a gap in air defences and weapon stockpile shortages.

Regarding the Army's artillery shell and missile stock levels, he said: "That bit is classified, but it would put the hairs up on the back of your neck."

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has offered a conditional pledge to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP, but Gen Sanders argued this figure fails to match the challenges facing the Armed Forces.

"We are carrying some very, very big financial commitments at the moment, the biggest is the renewal of the nuclear deterrent, which is absolutely necessary to do.

"But we're trying to do that at the same time as modernising the Air Force, the Navy, and the Army, and restock empty magazines, and regrow our defence industrial base, and ensure that we're looking after our people properly in terms of their accommodation and their reward packages."

General Sanders added that, while he believes the UK Armed Forces could fight at any scale, it couldn't do so for very long in its current form.

"Could you scramble together the two brigades that took the Falklands? Yes, of course we could," he said.

"But could we get them there?

"Could we have the task force that made it possible and sustain it? No."