Why the UK’s promise to send troops to Ukraine is delusional
February 17, 2025
Britain still loves to see itself as a military heavyweight, but the reality is far less grand. With troop numbers falling, recruitment in crisis, and defense spending stretched thin, the UK’s promise to send troops to Ukraine is more fantasy than fact. The British Army is shrinking, with more soldiers leaving than enlisting, and its budget isn’t keeping up with global ambitions. Even if there were enough troops, the logistical nightmare of deploying them into an active war zone—without dragging NATO into a direct confrontation—makes the idea even less feasible. Britain’s military nostalgia doesn’t change the hard numbers: it simply doesn’t have the manpower, resources, or strategic backing to make this promise a reality. Instead of chasing illusions of past glory, the UK needs to focus on what it can actually deliver—because right now, it’s punching well above its weight.
