Britain must be ready for a potential war within the next 1,000 days, according to Defense Secretary Wes Streeting. In an article for The Daily Telegraph, he warned that the country’s adversaries are rapidly expanding their military capabilities.

Streeting argued that while hostile intentions toward Britain are nothing new, the capabilities of its potential opponents have changed significantly. He warned that by 2030, their military strength and defense industries could reach a level that would allow them to launch an attack.

The minister stressed that London’s immediate priority is to ensure British forces can fight and win alongside their allies. With rival nations actively modernizing their armed forces, he called for stronger defense cooperation, particularly with NATO and the United States.

Streeting also emphasized the need to rebuild Britain’s defense industrial base. He argued that the country must expand production capacity and accelerate technological innovation to outpace its adversaries in both weapons development and manufacturing.

Earlier, Politico reported that Britain was reshaping its military strategy, shifting attention away from large, expensive weapons platforms toward the widespread deployment of drones, autonomous systems and faster development of battlefield technologies.

According to the publication, the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East have prompted London to fund Europe’s largest drone testing facility. British authorities are also establishing a dedicated task force to continuously expand unmanned aerial vehicle production and speed up deliveries to the armed forces.