how likely is war in uk

The likelihood of war involving the UK in the near future is taken seriously by the UK government and military, with increasing emphasis on preparing for the possibility of conflict, particularly involving Russia, within the next five years. The UK government has issued warnings that the country must "actively prepare" for potential wartime scenarios, including direct threats on UK soil, as highlighted in its 2025 National Security Strategy. This strategy considers rising hostile activities from countries such as Russia and Iran, and acknowledges that the UK needs a collective effort to bolster national resilience and defense capabilities. Senior military leaders acknowledge risks in fully meeting the UK's defensive needs but assert that the UK would respond as part of NATO in case of an attack. The government is investing heavily in defense upgrades and preparedness, including enhancing armed forces, infrastructure resilience, and readiness for modern conflict types such as cyber and hybrid warfare. Public perception also indicates concern, with surveys showing that around 74-75% of people in Great Britain think a major world conflict involving many countries is likely within the next 20 years. However, the overall chance of a large-scale world war remains uncertain and influenced by complex geopolitical dynamics and deterrence factors like NATO collective defense and nuclear deterrence. In summary, war involving the UK is considered a realistic possibility, particularly due to tensions with Russia and other geopolitical threats, prompting active preparation measures by the government and military, but the exact likelihood is difficult to quantify and depends on evolving global circumstances.