European Security — 2026-04-12

UK Revives Cold War-Era Government War Book to Prepare Nation for Conflict

The head of the UK armed forces revealed at the London Defence Conference that Britain is updating its Government War Book, a strategic blueprint not actively maintained since the Cold War, to prepare the entire nation for potential conflict. The plan covers military, police, hospitals, industry, and civilian infrastructure resilience against wartime threats. The chief cited the US-Israel-Iran war as part of the security context driving the initiative, noting that lessons from the Cold War era had been lost over 30 years of relative peace. The MoD faces a funding gap from decades of underinvestment despite a pledge to raise defense spending to 3.5% of GDP by 2035.

Analysis
The Government War Book revival represents Britain's most significant civil defense planning shift since the end of the Cold War. Citing the Iran war signals that London views the current threat environment as comparable to the Cold War period, not as a temporary crisis. The 3.5% GDP defense spending pledge by 2035 lacks a 10-year investment plan to direct that capital.

3 sources

UK Preparing For Transition To War: Armed Forces Chief Reveals New National Readiness Plan - IBTimes UK
UK preparing new plan to ready nation for war - Black Country Radio
Is the UK Preparing for War? Public Urged To Get Ready As Threats Escalate - Headlines & Global News