British Army chief Sir Nick Carter warns British forces must 'keep up' to counter Russia threat

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited a Russian Academy of Strategic Rocket Troops in December. Credit: PA

The head of the British Army will warn the country's ability to respond to Russian threats will erode if the UK does not keep up with its enemies.

General Sir Nick Carter will use a speech to the Royal United Services Institute to highlight how Moscow is building an increasingly aggressive and expeditionary force that already boasts capabilities that outmatch UK forces.

It comes amid widespread speculation about possible cuts to personnel and equipment amid major pressure on the defence budget.

There have been calls to increase defence spending to 3% of GDP from some MPs, and reports there are plans to cut the armed forces' strength by more than 14,000, as well as the combination of elite units of paratroopers and Royal Marines to save cash.

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson, who has approved General Carter's speech, last week claimed "hard work" is taking place across Government to give the "right resources" to the armed forces.

General Carter will also highlight how last year Russia undertook simulated attacks across Northern Europe.

Last month the chief of the defence staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach also addressed the threat of Russia, and said the UK's military has prioritised the protection of undersea cables from the Kremlin, because if they are cut or disrupted there would be an immediate and "potentially catastrophic" hit to the economy.

And using her address at the Lord Mayor's Banquet in London, Prime Minister Theresa May also said last year that Russia had "mounted a sustained campaign of cyber espionage and disruption" against other countries.

During his speech General Carter will stress that Britain "must take notice of what is going on around us" or that the ability by the UK to take action will be "massively constrained".

"Speed of decision making, speed of deployment and modern capability are essential if we wish to provide realistic deterrence," he will add.

The time to address these threats is now - we cannot afford to sit back."

He will add: "Our ability to pre-empt or respond to threats will be eroded if we don't keep up with our adversaries.

"State-based competition is now being employed in more novel and increasingly integrated ways and we must be ready to deal with them.

"The threats we face are not thousands of miles away but are now on Europe's doorstep - we have seen how cyber warfare can be both waged on the battlefield and to disrupt normal people's lives. We in the UK are not immune from that."