Top British and German military chiefs press ‘moral’ case for rearmament

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 4 min read 100% complete by Ben Quinn Political correspondentFebruary 15, 2026 at 07:02 PM

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long article 4 min

The top military chiefs of Britain and Germany, Air Chief Marshal Richard Knighton and Gen Carsten Breuer, have jointly appealed to the public for rearmament in response to Russia's westward-shifting military stance. In a joint article published after the Munich Security Conference, they emphasized the "moral" imperative to protect their people and preserve peace, advocating for increased defense spending. This appeal comes amid public reluctance in both countries to accept economic sacrifices for rearmament, despite growing concerns about a potential third world war. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has also called for closer UK-Europe defense ties, including procurement and manufacturing, to strengthen European defense capabilities. He emphasized the need for Europe to take greater responsibility for its own defense, requiring closer integration with European allies.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

YouGov 40% Die Welt 50% Guardian 50% Keir Starmer 60% Munich Security Conference ×260% UK ×270% Richard Knighton 80% Europe ×580% Germany ×480% Britain ×480% Carsten Breuer 80% Russia ×390%

Keywords

rearmament 100% defence spending 80% russia 70% european security 70% moral case 60% military threat 60% defence relationship 50% public opinion 50% munich security conference 40%