The UK government has announced plans to hold annual national security exercises to prepare for potential attacks on British soil, following stark warnings from security chiefs that the homeland is at risk for the first time in many years.
The drills, part of a broader update to the UK’s national security strategy released on Tuesday, aim to test whole-of-society preparedness for threats ranging from wartime scenarios to cyberattacks and infrastructure sabotage. The first major exercise, codenamed Pegasus, will take place this autumn and simulate a response to a new global pandemic. Future drills may include scenarios such as missile strikes, mass terror attacks, cyber disruptions, or high-profile assassinations.
The 55-page strategy document signals a fundamental shift in government planning, reviving Cold War-style public awareness campaigns and updating contingency plans to protect politicians, royals, and critical infrastructure in case of attack, particularly from Russia. It also includes new measures to defend power stations, transport hubs, undersea cables, and gas pipelines, which are essential to the UK’s food and energy security.
Following a government-led China audit, British businesses and universities will receive new guidelines to guard against cyber threats linked to Beijing. While China is still described as an important partner on issues like economic growth, the strategy warns of growing concerns over espionage, democratic interference, and the undermining of UK economic security. The document vows to continue a threat-driven approach to China, reinforcing cyber defences and implementing stronger countermeasures.
As global tensions escalate, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is attending a NATO summit in the Netherlands, where allies are expected to back Donald Trump’s call to raise defence funding to 5% of GDP.
The UK’s broader interpretation of defence spending now includes areas such as food security, online safety, and public infrastructure, adding 1.5% of GDP in wider security spending to the traditional 3.5% military allocation.
For the first time, the UK government has classified harmful online content as a national security issue. The Online Safety Act, aimed at curbing terrorist and extremist content, is now central to the UK’s response to tech-enabled threats. Officials are working with internet platforms and regulators like Ofcom to develop more effective enforcement tools.
The strategy emphasises the UK’s commitment to working with allies to counter common threats. While the US remains Britain’s closest security partner, the document highlights deepening cooperation with France, particularly on nuclear weapons and outlines plans for a new bilateral defence treaty with Germany. Joint projects, such as developing long-range precision weapons, are already underway.
The review also notes increasing coordination among hostile nations, with North Korea supplying Russia with military components and Iran providing missiles and drones for the Ukraine war. The document warns of strategic and opportunistic partnerships among adversaries, presenting complex new challenges to Western security.
Pat McFadden, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, said the UK must now adopt a clear-eyed and hard-edged view of global threats. The government is invoking the Blitz spirit of the Second World War, urging citizens to unite around a national effort to bolster security and resilience.
“Our history shows we can come together to protect each other,” the strategy concludes. “We must mobilise that spirit once again for our national security and the future of our country.”
