According to a statement made this December 12 by UK Armed Forces Minister Al Carns, the country is "rapidly developing" plans to get ready for the possibility of the outbreak of war.
Carns also suggested that civilians could be greatly involved in a potential conflict, noting that "societies, industries, and economies win wars."
His remarks come amid new findings showing that hostile intelligence activity targeting the UK’s Armed Forces has risen by 50% over the past year, with Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea being considered the main suspects. The comments were also delivered just the day after NATO chief Mark Rutte warned NATO members that Russia could attack them within five years, waging a conflict "on the scale of war our grandparents and great-grandparents endured."
Once a more cooperative partnership, ties between the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and Moscow have deteriorated sharply, today resembling the tense standoff of the Cold War. NATO leaders view Russia as a direct security threat, but repeated warnings and condemnations from the Alliance have so far had little effect on the Kremlin. Today, some member states, such as the UK, are beginning to prepare for the possibility of a future confrontation with Moscow.
So, how has a previously constructive relationship between NATO and Russia turned so fractious? Click through this gallery and find out more about why Russia fell out with NATO.