This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-26710855

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Dannatt: UK needs more troops to 'send military message' Dannatt: UK needs more troops to 'send military message'
(about 2 hours later)
The UK should recruit more soldiers in light of the Ukraine and Syria crises and station an extra 3,000 troops in Germany, the former head of the Army has said.The UK should recruit more soldiers in light of the Ukraine and Syria crises and station an extra 3,000 troops in Germany, the former head of the Army has said.
Lord Dannatt said boosting troops would signify that "Britain takes its defence responsibilities seriously". Lord Dannatt said boosting troops would signify that the UK took "defence and security seriously".
Amid Nato concerns over Russian forces in Crimea, he said the West must not be "weak in resolve and muscle". Amid Nato concerns over Russian forces in Crimea, he said the West must have "muscle behind our message".
He made his comments in The Daily Telegraph. The Ministry of Defence said it was "reshaping" the armed forces.
Lord Dannatt, who was chief of the general staff between 2006 and 2008, warned that despite the "war-weariness and war-wariness" felt by the UK, recent international developments had shown "strategic shocks happen". Lord Dannatt, who was chief of the general staff between 2006 and 2008, told the BBC's Today Programme: "What I'm saying is the strategic circumstances in the world have changed. And perhaps we should consider a pause in reducing our armed services and our capability, and make a small increase.
"While there is neither the logic nor appetite for intervention in Syria, nor a treaty obligation requiring military intervention in Ukraine, both situations are stark reminders of how the strategic landscape can change," he wrote. "It sends a message that actually we take our defence and security seriously and that he [Putin] should think twice before he considers any further expeditions and expansion."
'Challenging' landscape 'Wrong-footed ourselves'
Nato's military commander in Europe said Russian forces at the Ukrainian border were "very, very sizeable and very, very ready". There has been a British army presence in Germany for nearly 70 years, and Lord Dannatt called upon the government to "rethink" its plans to end a British troop presence in the country.
Supreme Allied Commander Europe Gen Philip Breedlove expressed specific concerns about the threat to Moldova's Trans-Dniester region. Under the 2010 strategic defence review, the government announced it wanted to withdraw all 20,000 troops in Germany, plus their families, by 2020.
The build-up has been linked to Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine, following the removal of Ukraine's pro-Moscow president. Russia said its forces east of Ukraine complied with international agreements. And current plans for cuts to the Army will see personnel numbers reduced from 102,000 to 82,000 by 2018. The number of part-time soldiers will double, from 15,000 to 30,000.
Lord Dannatt said that Russian President Vladimir Putin would look beyond diplomacy and sanctions "to see where the real check on his actions might come from". Lord Dannatt told the BBC: "It's very hard to predict the future; if our defence capability is weak then at some point in the future, we may find that we have wrong-footed ourselves.
"Whether his ambition reaches into eastern Ukraine or elsewhere, only he knows," wrote Lord Dannatt.
"However, with a resurgent Russia, this is a poor moment for the US-led West to be weak in resolve and muscle."
He spoke of "uncomfortable shadows of the Thirties" and added: "Russia has long been the ally of Syria.
"Mr Putin will see the UN and EU as virtually powerless to impose their will on [Syria's] President Assad, and will be further encouraged."
Lord Dannatt said an extra 3,000 troops could be stationed in Germany to "underline our commitment to peace and security" to allies in the EU and Nato.
While recognising financial pressures, "to remove further resources from defence would be sending exactly the wrong message at this time".
"On the contrary, there is a strong argument to recognise that the international landscape is more challenging than in 2010, and consider making a statement that greater military capability must underpin our diplomacy," he added.
'Too small'
Current plans for cuts to the Army will see personnel numbers reduced from 102,000 to 82,000 by 2018. The number of part-time soldiers will double, from 15,000 to 30,000.
However, Lord Dannatt said there was "genuine concern" as to whether sufficient reservists could be recruited and trained.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Looking at the future, it's very hard to predict the future, if our defence capability is weak then at some point in the future, we may find that we have wrong-footed ourselves.
"Many people think that 82,000 is too small a regular army for the UK to have, I am certainly one of those.""Many people think that 82,000 is too small a regular army for the UK to have, I am certainly one of those."
He said that an extra 3,000 troops "would send a message to Mr Putin and others that diplomacy and economic sanctions are one thing, but there is muscle behind our message".He said that an extra 3,000 troops "would send a message to Mr Putin and others that diplomacy and economic sanctions are one thing, but there is muscle behind our message".
But when asked what the extra troops would be doing, he said: "I wouldn't expect them to do anything." Nato's military commander in Europe said Russian forces at the Ukrainian border were "very, very sizeable and very, very ready".
He suggested the Defence Reform Bill going through the House of Lords could be the opportunity to alter the balance between regular and reserve soldiers in the Army. Supreme Allied Commander in Europe Gen Philip Breedlove expressed specific concerns about the threat to Moldova's Trans-Dniester region.
The build-up has been linked to Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine, following the removal of Ukraine's pro-Moscow president. Russia said its forces east of Ukraine complied with international agreements.
Lord Dannatt made his comments ahead of a meeting between President Barack Obama and other world leaders in the Netherlands later, where the crisis in Crimea and Ukraine will be discussed.
'Properly equipped'
Lord Dannatt suggested the Defence Reform Bill, which is going through the House of Lords, could be the opportunity to alter the balance between regular and reserve soldiers in the Army.
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: "The 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review set out how the armed forces would be restructured to meet future threats, including managing risks before they materialise in the UK, and maintaining a broad spectrum of defence capabilities.
"With the fourth largest defence budget in the world we are reshaping our armed forces to ensure that they are properly equipped and more adaptable to future challenges and to bring the UK into line with our closest allies, who make much more use of reserve forces."