Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al-Mayadeen's correspondent in southern Lebanon: Israeli occupation forces withdraw from the Blida municipality building two hours after occupying it, and the Lebanese army enters
Pakistani army: 6 soldiers and 7 militants killed in clash near the Afghan border
Israeli media: Sirens sound in the settlement of Kerem Shalom in the Gaza envelope area
Afghan source to Al Mayadeen: We still believe in dialogue and prioritize diplomatic solutions with Pakistan; though we are ready for all possibilities.
Afghan source to Al Mayadeen: Pakistan purposely obstructed negotiations in Turkey by making unrealistic demands.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: More than 70 martyrs in Israeli attacks on Gaza since dawn.
Death toll from latest Israeli strikes on Gaza rises to 30
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Five killed in the Israeli bombing of a civilian vehicle on Al-Qassam Street in Khan Younis, south of the Gaza Strip
Hamas confirms that it has no connection to the shooting incident in Rafah and affirms its commitment to the ceasefire agreement
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Two civilians were killed and four others, including a child and an infant, were injured in an Israeli bombing of a house belonging to the Al-Banna family in the al-Sabra neighborhood, south of Gaza City

Shrinking UK army worrying US generals amid Red Sea operations

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 21 Jan 2024 06:58
  • 1 Shares
3 Min Read

Recent analysis indicates that the British army's numbers will fall below 70,000 soldiers within the next two years.

  • x
  • UK
    British soldiers march in a procession after the coronation ceremony of Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla in London, Saturday, May 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

A former senior US general expressed concern over the diminishing number of troops in the British army, pointing out that it is no longer as formidable as it once was, amid calls for secretaries to address the military recruitment crisis facing the country.

Recent analysis indicates that the British army's numbers will fall below 70,000 soldiers within the next two years, prompting both US and European generals to question whether the UK remains a top-tier fighting force, as reported by The Daily Mail.

According to The Times newspaper, if the current rate of troop decline persists, the regular soldier count is projected to reach 67,741 by 2026, a figure smaller than the personnel in the United States special operations forces alone.

The former US general acknowledged the UK's status as the US' closest ally but observed diminished military capabilities over the past few decades, stating, "Hence, while being the most important ally across the board, it is decidedly not what it used to be, regrettably."

With the existing trends, the British army is expected to have only 52,000 troops in a decade. In the year leading up to September 2023, the army's troops count declined from 79,139 to 75,983, with more soldiers leaving than joining.

Related News

Trump directs Pentagon to begin nuclear weapons testing

Trump: South Korea to build nuclear submarine in Philadelphia shipyard

The Royal Navy is also grappling with a significant drop in enlistment, causing concerns among senior commanders about its future capabilities.

UK ministers have agreed to reduce the number of army troops to 72,500 by next year, a decision that has raised anxieties among senior US generals, considering the figure may fall even lower.

Despite the army failing to meet recruitment targets for the past decade, the recruitment overseer, Capita, has been awarded contracts exceeding £1.1 billion.

"On current trends, our army is set for further decline if ministers do not get to grips with their recruitment and retention crisis," Shadow Defence Secretary John Healey warned.

This comes as the British military is taking part in the US-led strikes against Yemen in the Red Sea region. A spokesperson for the MoD claimed the Royal Navy had destroyed drones in the Red Sea and added that the Royal Air Force had "weakened" the Yemeni Ansar Allah movement's capabilities in the latest aggressions.

But MailOnline reported that the Royal Navy is becoming a "refer-a-friend" scheme to attract new sailors, offering rewards to current personnel.

Read more: US, UK attacks on Ansar Allah were expected to have minimal impact

  • United States
  • Royal Air Force
  • US
  • Yemen
  • Red Sea
  • UK
  • United Kingdom
  • Royal Navy
War on Gaza

War on Gaza

Most Read

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

  • Technology
  • 24 Oct 2025
Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

  • Politics
  • 27 Oct 2025
Hi-tech holocaust: Microsoft’s role in Gaza genocide

Microsoft's role in world’s first AI-driven genocide, in Gaza, exposed

  • Technology
  • 28 Oct 2025
What Marr evidently didn't seem to understand was that Hedges isn't saying that Western journalists manipulate the truth, but that they systematically amplify Israeli narratives they know are false. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Western journalists know they have a case to answer for their betrayal of Gaza, and it frightens them

  • Opinion
  • 24 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Displaced Sudanese who fled El-Fasher after the city fell to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), rest near the town of Tawila in war-torn Sudan's western Darfur region (AP)
Politics

UAE directly funded RSF, leading to fall of El-Fasher: Sudan

'You’re not welcome in Greece': Israelis face port protests
Politics

'You’re not welcome in Greece': Israelis face port protests

This photo released by the Israeli military on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023, shows ground operations inside the Gaza Strip (AP)
Politics

IOF soldier who fought in Gaza, Lebanon denied entry to Czech Republic

UN inquiry exposes 'Israel’s' four genocidal crimes against Gaza
Politics

'Israel' committed four genocidal acts in Gaza, UN inquiry finds

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS