The United Kingdom is facing ongoing cyberattacks from Russia, prompting warnings from senior military advisers about the country’s vulnerability amid delays in defence spending. George Robertson and Sir Richard Barrons, authors of a strategic defence review for Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, cautioned MPs that the threat from Russia is significant and escalating, and that the UK has not responded with adequate urgency.

According to Robertson, the UK is under “daily attack” from Russian cyber operations, which he described as a “profoundly dangerous” situation worsened by a yearlong delay in publishing the government’s defence investment plan. The plan, issued last week after being postponed, still leaves a multibillion-pound gap in funding that the next prime minister will have to address. Robertson criticized what he called a “degree of complacency” in the country’s overall approach to security, expressing concern that the public has not been sufficiently informed about the nature of the threat. He said defence officials avoid raising alarms to prevent public panic, but insisted that raising awareness is critical.

Sir Richard Barrons underscored the risks linked to the delay in defence spending, noting that Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer recently stated Russia could launch an attack on NATO as soon as 2030. Barrons argued that the UK effectively lost a year of preparedness, intensifying the threat. Meanwhile, Robertson revealed efforts to engage with political figures such as Nigel Farage to discuss defence matters, highlighting ongoing debates about the nation’s strategic readiness.

The warnings come ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara, which opened as President Donald Trump and Sir Keir Starmer were set to meet. Relations between the UK and its NATO allies have been strained by the postponed defence investment, with Robertson predicting “frosty” interactions. He noted that the US and other partners are frustrated by the UK’s slower-than-expected commitment to defence funding.

In response, Conservative MP Kemi Badenoch urged the government to focus less on criticisms from Trump and more on resolving defence funding challenges. She acknowledged that the American president’s demands for increased NATO spending are consistent with those of his predecessors, though his tone is notably more direct. Badenoch pointed to recent increases in defence budgets by countries like Germany and Poland as evidence of other European states responding to the pressure, and criticized the UK’s spending priorities during that period.

The debate highlights ongoing tensions over the UK’s defence posture amid rising geopolitical threats and differing views on how best to allocate resources and manage alliance relationships. As the NATO summit proceeds, the UK’s next steps on defence investment and its response to cyber threats from Russia will likely remain central issues.