Strong navy is crucial to see off Russian and Chinese threats says British Admiral

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  • čas přidán 14. 05. 2024
  • “We are in an incredibly dangerous world.”
    Steadily cutting the UK’s defence budget over the last 15 years was a “very silly and dangerous thing to do”, says former first sea lord Admiral Lord West.
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Komentáře • 134

  • @mac2626
    @mac2626 Před 26 dny +12

    As an Island Nation our Navy is absolutely essential.

    • @arfgrogue5735
      @arfgrogue5735 Před 26 dny

      Has been for the past 400-500 years. The senior service was what projected our sole superpower status for almost 150 years. How the older generations would be ashamed for what the royal navy has become. Once the most powerful navy on earth, and now a mere fraction of its former self.

    • @MarkFarrington-hb2ne
      @MarkFarrington-hb2ne Před 25 dny +1

      We can't police the channel, wake up! 😂😂😂😂😂

    • @cluckingbells
      @cluckingbells Před 25 dny +1

      @@MarkFarrington-hb2ne But that's a political choice.
      Article 33 of UNCLOS allows every coastal state to 'prevent' people infringing its migration laws and regulations.
      Its the same political choice that has depleted our military during the past 30 years.

    • @MrPaulBellingham
      @MrPaulBellingham Před 25 dny +1

      ​@@MarkFarrington-hb2neNot the navy's job. Leave that to the police etc.

    • @davidpenney2334
      @davidpenney2334 Před 25 dny

      What Navy is that?

  • @bobbysinger4053
    @bobbysinger4053 Před 26 dny +8

    Times radio went from declaring Putin can't win to dire proclaminations in less than a day

  • @derekwhite2929
    @derekwhite2929 Před 26 dny +4

    How're we going to revive shipbuilding at the same time as shutting down steel production and port Talbot?

  • @robertfrancis7767
    @robertfrancis7767 Před 26 dny +5

    You need ship building in the UK for resilence, technical capability, experienced workforce and scaleability. Fleet Auxiliaries need a defensive capability overseas manufacture unwise and balance of payments wise wasteful. Build capacity and enable capacity for overseas orders as well. Government said they want to build increased ship building capacity in UK they have to mean it and stick to it.

    • @davidpenney2334
      @davidpenney2334 Před 25 dny

      They don't mean it....get real....lying b******* all of them

  • @davidoldboy5425
    @davidoldboy5425 Před 26 dny +7

    He'd hardly say anything else would he?? But lets take a good hard look at the problems, we no longer produce steel, we have no shipyards or drydocks, nor skilled workforce, we can't get crews, we have no overseas bases and Cameron is about to give away the most important Gibraltar, we no longer have a Merchant Navy and would starve in a conflict, but perhaps the greatest obstacle is time, if we ordered a new fleet today it will be years before it is delivered and ready, we are finished, face it.

    • @mac2626
      @mac2626 Před 25 dny

      You are one long winded BS merchant.

  • @TimesFM4532
    @TimesFM4532 Před 27 dny +13

    The navy think it needs more big ships. Nooooo

    • @MrPaulBellingham
      @MrPaulBellingham Před 25 dny +1

      No, the navy knows it needs more small ships

    • @TimesFM4532
      @TimesFM4532 Před 25 dny +1

      @MrPaulBellingham true the two air craft carriers don't have planes or escorts

    • @icu17siberia
      @icu17siberia Před 20 dny

      if UK wants to protect its trade routes...yes. Carrier Strike groups

  • @zulu5282
    @zulu5282 Před 26 dny +2

    Lord West was instrumental in cutting the Navy for the sake of aircraft carriers.

  • @gavinsmith9564
    @gavinsmith9564 Před 26 dny +3

    Given the number of MPs and Brexiteers with links to Russia, maybe we need a full Russia investigation first.

  • @matt.willoughby
    @matt.willoughby Před 27 dny +3

    The conservative/liberal coalition from 2010 cut defence spending year after year. Under Labour we was spending upwards of 5% or 6%. Labour needs to have 4% on defence as a manifesto issue and actually campaign on that

    • @geofo60
      @geofo60 Před 26 dny

      It was Cameron and Osbourne who were responsible for the initial plan for hollowing out of the UK 's armed forces. Now look at the mess we've inherited from 14 years of Tory governance across all aspects of Public Services !!

  • @geoffreydron1496
    @geoffreydron1496 Před 27 dny +7

    Lord West is correct. The priority is to increase the size of the Royal Navy and the RAF. European NATO partners must provide the backbone of land forces. UK needs to get to 3% GDP by 2007. That's for starters.

    • @geofo60
      @geofo60 Před 26 dny +1

      I think you meant 2027 ? Aside from that, I agree with 95% of your comment.

    • @Chrisklown
      @Chrisklown Před 26 dny

      Russia: this is its last war. February 24, 2022 n October 7, 2023

    • @geoffreydron1496
      @geoffreydron1496 Před 26 dny +1

      @@geofo60 yes, I did

  • @kdenyer1
    @kdenyer1 Před 25 dny +1

    What everyone seems to be missing is it’s okay to build your ships in uk. But where is the steel coming from. As far as I know we seem to have given all our steel industry away. 😊

    • @philhawley1219
      @philhawley1219 Před 22 dny

      The aircraft carriers were built with Swedish steel at the expense of jobs in Port Talbot. Joined up thinking from our wonderful government.

    • @icu17siberia
      @icu17siberia Před 20 dny

      Totally agree. In fact if UK had more heavy manufacturing maybe there be fewer people on welfare. It hard for young people to get good jobs anymore, what choice do they have?

  • @onenote6619
    @onenote6619 Před 27 dny +2

    Really old guy says 'things need to be more like it was when In was younger'. He might be right, but being an ex-Admiral does not change the fact that he is behind the times. What do current admirals think? Personally, I give them more credibility than some guy who does not have justify his choices.

    • @dpelpal
      @dpelpal Před 27 dny

      Kind of like how under his command russia collapsed and there were no wars in Europe. Probably good idea to listen to him lol, especially the part when he asserts what a joke the russian navy is

    • @Makeyourselfbig
      @Makeyourselfbig Před 24 dny

      @@dpelpal I doubt Russias collapse had anything to do with who was top dog in the royal Navy at that time. The Russian navy has always been a joke ever since the Japanese defeated them in 1911. Russia is a land power and always has been. As for no wars in Europe. I think that is down to Nukes.

  • @robryan1933
    @robryan1933 Před 26 dny +2

    Since 1970's British manufacturing has gone down hill.
    Shib building
    Nuclear power stations
    Aircraft
    All the thousands of jobs and the skill sets if generations have been lost.
    So design and build in our own country.
    Don't forget that roughly 30% of the money spent goes back to the government in tax, it doesn't if you pay somebody abroad.

  • @JuliusFawcett
    @JuliusFawcett Před 27 dny +14

    NHS waiting lists are dangerous, nobody is invading us

    • @dpelpal
      @dpelpal Před 27 dny

      One wonders why people are lining up at the border to get _into_ the UK, and OUT of russia

    • @dpelpal
      @dpelpal Před 27 dny

      Funny how people are lining up at the UK border to get IN, and they're lining up at the russian border to get OUT

    • @dpelpal
      @dpelpal Před 27 dny

      Funny how people are trying to get across the border into the UK, and are lining up at the russian border to get OUT.😂😂😂

    • @fg_arnold
      @fg_arnold Před 26 dny +4

      You, in Sept, '39: "The invasion of Poland is unfortunate, but no justification for increasing our military spend. Nobody is invading us ..."

    • @davidmaxwaterman
      @davidmaxwaterman Před 26 dny +2

      @@fg_arnold Maybe you're stuck in '39, but some of us are not.

  • @cluckingbells
    @cluckingbells Před 25 dny

    15 years ? 30 years more like. I would have asked Lord West why the Type 22 frigates were disposed of without being replaced under the last Labour government ? Why the Type 45 order was halved, from 12 to 6 ships, under the last Labour government ?
    These reductions had implications not only for our defense but also for our ship building and steel industries that they have never recovered from. The same for many of our tank factories which shut under the last Labour government due to no new designs or orders being received.
    And of course government departments can't beat the Treasury. The Prime Minister is First Lord of the Treasury.

  • @davidpenney2334
    @davidpenney2334 Před 25 dny

    Reckon we are 40 years away from getting back our Navy, if we build ships and train fighting men...NO WE HAVENT CUT OUR NAVY IN THE PAST 15 YEARS...ITS BEEN AT LEAST 50 YEARS

  • @loopwithers
    @loopwithers Před 27 dny +1

    Thoroughly RETIRED British Admiral says exactly what one might expect. Rain expected later. Cat found after massive local search. Wind variable.

    • @sociobiologist5141
      @sociobiologist5141 Před 26 dny +2

      You're in favour of outsourcing defence, despite the risk this poses? Madness.

  • @MrPatch25
    @MrPatch25 Před 25 dny +1

    Why bother we have lost this country already

  • @larseriksen5385
    @larseriksen5385 Před 26 dny

    Its the Banks putting in the money for Harland and Wolff. The government back the loan through UKEF. This will create 1000s jobs in Northern Island and create competition within the Brutish ship building industry.

  • @kymvalleygardensdesign5350

    The army and airforce also need to be strong, they hadn't better sub them out to foreign builders, we can't bake a cake anymore.

  • @nollem41
    @nollem41 Před 26 dny +1

    It will take this wee country 400 years to build up a Navy capable of invading Peru.

  • @darthknight1
    @darthknight1 Před 25 dny

    Jeez! Get a room!

  • @Chisel_Chest
    @Chisel_Chest Před 26 dny +1

    Strong (and inexpensive) aerial and naval drone game

  • @pennypothoneypot634mimmahappun

    Gosh; that is incredibly insulting and flipant, that money saves a Nation NOT the principle or the rules of law on war matters.
    As much as saving peoples lives from total disaster death tolls.

  • @markjohnston7869
    @markjohnston7869 Před 25 dny

    Are the Navy going to mop the decks of both ships then?

  • @dalecrocker3213
    @dalecrocker3213 Před 27 dny +1

    Navies will go the way of horse cavalry unless someone can think up effective ways of preventing drone attacks.

    • @dpelpal
      @dpelpal Před 27 dny +1

      Russia is the only country to lose a naval war to a country with no navy😂

    • @pauldean8638
      @pauldean8638 Před 26 dny

      @@dpelpalso for a thick person to understand they armed by western countries , Ukraine hasn’t got sea drones

    • @icu17siberia
      @icu17siberia Před 20 dny +1

      maybe.....

  • @user-yv1od6ho7t
    @user-yv1od6ho7t Před 27 dny +1

    The Ukrainian war and the vulnerability of Russia's black sea fleet to swarm drones both under and over the water has actually exposed naval power as highly vulnerable and potentially expired.

  • @Moekoffee2001
    @Moekoffee2001 Před 27 dny +5

    Ukraine has developed sea drone capabilities and strategies that did not exist 5 years ago, and this will continue. The game has changed, and capable ships have now become targets with compromised defenses

    • @pauldean8638
      @pauldean8638 Před 26 dny

      It’s not Ukraine drones , simpleton !

    • @mac2626
      @mac2626 Před 26 dny

      Shut up! 🤡

    • @ConnorJane
      @ConnorJane Před 26 dny

      Ukraine didn't create anything. It spends your taxes on war PR. And it doesn't work. Congrats?

    • @hymns4ever197
      @hymns4ever197 Před 26 dny

      It depends on the strategic positioning and tactical use. The Black Sea is a relative bathtub. If missiles can be launched from the middle of the Atlantic, I doubt there is a drone that can touch them.

    • @icu17siberia
      @icu17siberia Před 20 dny

      actually, sea drones have been around for 10 years, just that now we get to see them used.

  • @user-zc4yd9ss7h
    @user-zc4yd9ss7h Před 24 dny

    Not sure big ships are the answer since the Russians have developed small underwater drones which can take them out. As for the the US carriers, they would need to keep them south of Taiwan in any conflict with China, as the CCP have developed carrier killing missiles on their mainland coast.

    • @icu17siberia
      @icu17siberia Před 20 dny

      thats the thing with carriers. you can project power from a distance

  • @Jeremiah59
    @Jeremiah59 Před 26 dny

    Things don't grow over night. This is a problem of long term, stategic thinking of British Industry. Sadly its too late, things are going to be a mess if a war breaks out with Russia.

  • @MarkFarrington-hb2ne
    @MarkFarrington-hb2ne Před 25 dny +1

    Wants a navy but doesn't want British people to have jobs

  • @alexlanning712
    @alexlanning712 Před 25 dny

    The Old heads, know

  • @oldsouljerry
    @oldsouljerry Před 25 dny

    While the physical reasons that caused the RN to once be the worlds eminent - we are an island - have not changed, technology has moved on.
    Airpower, missles and counter EW are priority over navy hulls though more expensive.
    Ships are targets for missiles (Subs are fine) As a ignorant dirtsucker I fear the mistake we're making is building expensive ships that are viable missile targets - in small numbers with low economy of scale.
    If we want ships, we should have a large navy of hundreds of small, low value ships with only specialized or limited missile / counter missile / EW capacity for dispersal of targets and coverage that can be quickly replaced and do not represent a major event if lost, as opposed to expensive power projectors that are huge setbacks when damaged.
    The ships we are building take way way too long to design, construct, repair and service by which time the tech is always at risk of being outdated, plus price wise they have to compete cost / effective with ground and air forces.
    Alternative we need to be Much Much Much better at mass producing Navy platforms faster and cheaper and I don't see that happening.
    Honestly, right now we would be much stronger militarily if we ditched all the navy construction capacity and bought wholesale off America. They would then have more orders, more money, more economy of scale meaning all our ships would be better quality. Our pride prevents that.

  • @richardtodd6559
    @richardtodd6559 Před 25 dny

    That’s why we have yanks…

  • @Infopirates
    @Infopirates Před 26 dny

    How much? 😁

  • @JCT442
    @JCT442 Před 26 dny

    No fear, the US Navy will continue to patrol and visit the Solent...

  • @marumaru6084
    @marumaru6084 Před 26 dny +1

    Our navy is so good our border is open to anyone!

  • @davidmaxwaterman
    @davidmaxwaterman Před 26 dny +1

    What a load of twoddle.

  • @monkeyboy8424
    @monkeyboy8424 Před 26 dny

    Monty Python military led by Monty Python Defence Secretary Can't Shapps aka Michael Green - with a "pint-sized loser" PM.

  • @dpelpal
    @dpelpal Před 27 dny +4

    Russia is the only country on the planet to lose a naval war to a country with no navy🤣

  • @Worldturnedupsidedown
    @Worldturnedupsidedown Před 26 dny

    Why would Russia invade this septic isle? What could we possibly have that Russians would die for? Suggestions....

    • @lw1zfog
      @lw1zfog Před 26 dny

      Liz Truss rates the regional cheeses, apparently.

    • @oldsouljerry
      @oldsouljerry Před 25 dny

      Why would Russia attack.... hmmm....... engage imagination.......They might want to do a pre-emptive strike to prevent Muslim Jihadists from taking over the UK government and gaining access to the old Nuclear arsenal! 😁
      I am sure there are many who won't morn too much if London became a crater.
      Just saying we got our domestic problems to juggle too.

  • @Mark-Haddow
    @Mark-Haddow Před 27 dny +2

    There are roughly 40 serving Admirals in the Royal Navy.
    Guess how many ships...

    • @dpelpal
      @dpelpal Před 27 dny

      Like how Ukraine has no navy and has totally destroyed russia's black sea fleet with remote control toys

    • @WellSalt-Studio
      @WellSalt-Studio Před 27 dny

      @@dpelpal According to your logic, the British Navy could be abolished.

    • @tommycundy
      @tommycundy Před 26 dny +1

      There are 2 Admirals. Admiral Radakin and Key. There aren't even 40 Commodores. Such tabloid nonsense.

    • @MrPaulBellingham
      @MrPaulBellingham Před 25 dny

      @@tommycundy Not quite. But I think the OP is confused over the purpose of an Admiral, be it Full, Vice or Rear.

    • @tommycundy
      @tommycundy Před 25 dny

      @@MrPaulBellingham Even in that case it’s not 40. Find my a single piece of evidence, no matter how spurrious the link, that there are 40 rear, vice or full admirals. I’m so bored of people doing our hard-working navy down.

  • @leeneon854
    @leeneon854 Před 27 dny +1

    UK needs submarines, and quickly, Portsmouth Plymouth, Scotland can build ships

    • @geofo60
      @geofo60 Před 26 dny +1

      When the announcement was made, I'm sure that BAE were mentioned with regards to the upcoming contracts. Also many of the structures for the new ships will be modular, enabling them to be built "off site" & transported to the dockyards for final assembly.

  • @mrjerzheel
    @mrjerzheel Před 27 dny +9

    UK needs to spend money on its own people, not pretending its a serious military power any more.

    • @matt.willoughby
      @matt.willoughby Před 27 dny +1

      But we *are* a strong military, that's the whole point.

    • @Mark-Haddow
      @Mark-Haddow Před 27 dny

      What?
      The UK is a serious military power. It's also operating as a peace time force.

    • @jatkinson9476
      @jatkinson9476 Před 26 dny +1

      Our own people ARE looked after and secured if we build a strong military. Look at the Nordic states, look at the Balkans. Arming themselves to the teath and mandatory consumption Armies. Now ... The UK could save money and dispand it's professional force in exchange for a conscription based one like what we see on in the countries - would that be preferable? It's a serious option too! But we would need to stockpile equipment regardless... And we don't have anything like we had equipment wise 15-20 years ago.

    • @icu17siberia
      @icu17siberia Před 20 dny

      @@jatkinson9476 absolutely. And the job creation is off the charts. Only subversive elements would argue against your logic

  • @richardsullivan1022
    @richardsullivan1022 Před 26 dny

    UK needs too deploy their new Navy the dinggy divers 😂😂

  • @stephanmbenti2855
    @stephanmbenti2855 Před 26 dny

    How would you build the navy when you keep giving out money to Ukraine? The only way to stand up to China and Russia is to build and take care of your industry.

  • @WellSalt-Studio
    @WellSalt-Studio Před 27 dny +2

    Is Britain going to start a military competition with Russia and China?

    • @stephenmuir5030
      @stephenmuir5030 Před 26 dny

      That's not possible, because the competition has already been started *by* Russia and China.
      But it is necessary not to duck-out by failing to respond to the threat they pose.

    • @yemail5555
      @yemail5555 Před 26 dny

      ​@@stephenmuir5030 Do you really believe China see UK as a threat? The idea is illusional. Can UK send any meaningful force near our boarder? The UK is at best a small regional player. I fail to see why they can see their status. We have over 50% percent of world's ship building capacity and if we covert just a small portion of it we can easily build an entire UK navy every year.

    • @davidmaxwaterman
      @davidmaxwaterman Před 26 dny

      It's a ridiculous idea, isn't it? China is not a threat to the UK. Actually, the UK's romping around the world is the cause of most of the problems. Everyone would be better of if we would just keep ourselves to ourselves. Frankly, we'd do much better to concentrate on our domestic problems - and not just feed our military industrial complex.
      This happens every time there's an election - distracting the voting public from our own problem and creating a common enemy. The world is lucky this time that we don't create a war out of nothing.

    • @oldsouljerry
      @oldsouljerry Před 25 dny

      No. We are a small island and not a world player.
      The government has little sway, whatever these delusional street protesters might believe.
      We invest in weapons in smaller, 'hi-quality' (cough cough) numbers just to stay relevant and have something to offer and meet commitments to allies.

    • @WellSalt-Studio
      @WellSalt-Studio Před 18 dny

      @@stephenmuir5030 Looking at your remarks today, they are really ridiculous!

  • @user-ss6zt7ht3x
    @user-ss6zt7ht3x Před 26 dny

    Excuse all the words weak up me the king. Of the est and the west king of Russia me. Only me. Bring it. Let it be. I am very busy

  • @chloehood6355
    @chloehood6355 Před 22 dny

    Its all missiles now , stop trying
    to spend truck loads of taxpayers
    money. Or are you commission
    led. ? R....

    • @icu17siberia
      @icu17siberia Před 20 dny

      What does China know that you don't then?

  • @peterl545
    @peterl545 Před 26 dny

    UK has 2 ski jump carriers. Garbage.

    • @davidpenney2334
      @davidpenney2334 Před 25 dny

      And no planes....All bluff and candyfloss

    • @icu17siberia
      @icu17siberia Před 20 dny

      with no escorts. ski jumps are a cost and technology compromise