'Prepare for war with Russia by 2030': ex-army chief Gen Sir Patrick Sanders on Putin, Iran and troop cuts

General Sir Patrick Sanders has a stark warning: Britain must
prepare for war with Russia within five years and start building
bunkers and better air defences.


Speaking exclusively to our Defence Editor Danielle Sheridan, the
former head of the British army points to the Nordic countries
and says we need to start taking a leaf out of their book.


He also discusses why an Iron Dome couldn’t work in the UK, his
thoughts on the recent Israel-Iran war, and why he didn’t
encourage his son to join the army.


General Sanders stood down as head of the British army last
summer. The former rifleman had been tipped to be the next Chief
of the Defence Staff but fell out of favour with the Government
for being too outspoken about the extent of troop cuts.


Our defence editor Danielle interviewed him in his garden at his
home in rural Wiltshire, with his blonde Labrador Fargo by his
side.


You can read her write-up and see some pretty extraordinary
photos of General Sanders
here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/07/11/britain-must-prepare-for-war-with-russia-next-five-years/


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