Britain is updating its secret mobilization plan in case of war — Sky News
The United Kingdom is developing an updated version of the government’s plan to prepare for a potential military conflict. The document is intended to cover not only the armed forces but also the civilian sector, industry, and critical infrastructure.
The goal is to adapt the country to modern threats and enhance the state’s readiness for crisis scenarios.
Sky News reports on this.
What is known about the UK’s preparations for war?
This involves a modernized version of the so-called "Government War Book"—a planning system that has existed since the time of World War I. The document contained detailed instructions on mobilizing the country in wartime, including the closure of schools, the repurposing of hospitals, food rationing, and even the preservation of national treasures.
According to Naughton, the new plan will take into account modern realities—infrastructure, technology, and threats, including hybrid attacks. He emphasized that preparations for conflict must include not only a military but also a civilian component.
Separately, he noted that London’s threat to intercept tankers of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” is already influencing Moscow’s actions. The Russian side is forced to escort such vessels or change their routes, although there have been no actual seizures of ships by British forces so far.
At the same time, the British armed forces are facing challenges due to years of underfunding following the end of the Cold War. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has promised to increase defense spending to 3.5% of GDP, but only by 2035. Furthermore, the government has yet to release a 10-year defense investment plan, creating uncertainty for the country’s defense industry.
Britain is convening a new meeting of allies regarding the Strait of Hormuz.
Negotiations between the U.S. and Iran have also begun to move forward. Tehran stated that Washington has allegedly agreed to unfreeze some of Iran’s assets, but there has been no official confirmation from the American side yet.
Iran is unable to quickly restore safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz due to the problem of minefields in the waterway and the lack of technical means to completely clear them.
