Britain has warned that it may have just over 1,000 days to prepare for a possible war as hostile states strengthen their military power.
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting says the United Kingdom and its NATO allies must be ready to defend themselves against growing security threats by 2030.
The warning comes as the government urges households to keep essential supplies at home in case of emergencies.
Writing in The Telegraph, Streeting said the military strength of hostile countries was increasing.
“Our adversaries’ willingness to harm us is not new. What has changed is their capacity. By 2030, their force strength and war economy could put them in a position to attack. That gives us a little over 1,000 days to complete our mission: to be ready with our allies to fight and win,” he wrote.
He added that preparing for the worst was necessary to prevent a possible crisis.
“To prevent the worst, we have to prepare for it. My defining priority is to make sure that this country is ready to fight and win a war,” he said.
Streeting also warned about cyberattacks, organised crime, climate change and threats to critical infrastructure.
He told the BBC that Britain faces a greater level of danger than at most points in his lifetime.
The warnings come alongside the government’s “Be Ready” campaign, which encourages people to prepare for emergencies.
Officials recommend keeping enough basic supplies at home to last three days. These include bottled water, non-perishable food, cash and other essential items.
Streeting said households and businesses should understand how to respond when unexpected situations arise.
“In the face of those threats, which are not hypothetical but real, and not somewhere else but increasingly here, we have to step up and take seriously our national resilience as well as our national defense,” he added.
The government stressed that the campaign aims to improve emergency preparedness, rather than respond to a specific intelligence warning.
Officials have also highlighted cyber threats after a recent software security incident affected organisations worldwide.
The incident prompted businesses and governments to strengthen their systems.
Streeting warned that artificial intelligence could make cyberattacks easier to carry out and harder to stop.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Andy Burnham called for better preparation for emergencies, including wildfires. He said a new response plan would include military aircraft.
The UK’s guidance follows similar advice from the European Commission, which urged EU citizens in March 2025 to maintain emergency kits with essential supplies for 72 hours.
