Members of Parliament caution that the United Kingdom's military is ill-prepared for high-intensity warfare.

The UK's armed forces are facing significant shortages in personnel and equipment, putting their readiness for a high-intensity war in question, according to a report by MPs. The report states that personnel are leaving the forces faster than they can be recruited, and improvements must be made to attract and retain personnel. The UK needs to break the cycle of shortages in order to effectively face increasingly challenging threats. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) acknowledges the issue and has made recruitment and retention a priority. General Sir Patrick Sanders, the head of the Army, has called for the training of a volunteer citizen army to prepare for a potential land war, emphasizing the threat from Russia and the need for equipment modernization. The MPs express concern about the recruitment and retention crisis and urge the MoD to address it more urgently. They also highlight the need for increased spending on ammunition and improvements in procurement processes to enhance industrial capacity. The committee calls on the government to prioritize military investment and make difficult choices to ensure military readiness. Defence Secretary Grant Shapps warns of the growing risks posed by countries like China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, as well as terrorist groups. However, he cannot provide a specific timeline for meeting the target of spending 2.5% of GDP on defence.