Are per the thread title.

If the UK was to do away with all military in the UK. Essentially leaving it unarmed, would it quickly be invaded, or would its allies fight to keep it safe?

Who would be the first to invade?

Aliens, has to be Aliens.

Invaded.
Russia.

Well we’d drop out of NATO, so our NATO allies wouldn’t protect us. Seeing as we don’t have any massive oil deposits or other in demand natural resources I can’t imagine anyone else wanting to “help” us like the West has done in the Middle East.

Interesting question though, why would anyone want to invade the UK nowadays?

No chance the Queen has lots of armies.

or would its allies fight to keep it safe?

AIUI, almost all our treaties are mutual protection.

If we are unable to offer any assistance, were our allies to be invaded, why would they offer us the same protection?

And who would be the first to invade? Probably the Norwegians or the French –
they’ve both had previous successes!

or would its allies fight to keep it safe?

WTF? Hell no.

Reality we’d probably bob on fine for a while, then one day when no one was looking be invaded.

Not much in terms of invasion/aggression

I think the days of nations completely conquering other nations is a thing of the past – in europe anyway
Many nations in europe are of a size militarily where they could be easily invaded by a larger nation but its not a real risk and it would not be for us
Our allies may fight it would depend who the aggressor was – north korea yes the USA not likely. Who would invade us and why – lichtenstein has no army but its not on a wish list because of this/
never going to happen though [ the invasion nor the no armed forces].

but we’d then have no-one to chase those smoky old Russian aircraft carriers away.

We’d be eating Borscht and chips in Lenindon before the week was out.

Gib and Falklands would be first to go.

Then the taffs would annex Monmouth.

Who is going to invade the UK? I really cannot think of any risk of this at all.

Overseas territories would be first to go; Falklands, Gibraltar, etc. After that, are we worth invading?

We could almost certainly scale back to a defence force and get rid of our nukes. It’s arguable that we’d be safer and better defended if we did this.

why would any country with a ounce of sense invade this shit hole.

good point that , the colonies would be taken back.

why would any country with a ounce of sense invade this shit hole.

Free houses and benefits apparently.

Agentina might invade the falklands but I doubt it – after all we no longer have the capability to send a task force / defend them as we did before so what is stopping Argentina doing this now?

spain is not going to invade Gibralter militarily.

so what is stopping Argentina doing this now?

4 typhoons, some rapiers systems and 1200 infantry.

They would struggle to make a successful amphibious landing against them.

as a world power, we are now a non entity.

spain is not going to invade Gibralter militarily

It is hardly an outlandish statement to say they will and it is certainly a very real risk

so what is stopping Argentina doing this now

TLAM equipped submarines + a considerably upgraded airfield and air defences.

4 typhoons, some rapiers systems and 1200 infantry.
They would struggle to make a successful amphibious landing against them.

Take off and nuke them from orbit.

It’s the only way

4 typhoons, some rapiers systems and 1200 infantry.

They would struggle to make a successful amphibious landing against them.

1 cruise missile into the only fast jet runway on the islands and you can land all the troops you like.

Rachel

What about all the tax havens? Our head of state is a world leader in offshore dealings…

1 cruise missile into the only fast jet runway on the islands

Do they have any?

Besides several cruise missiles into their airfields and they are not flying anything either.

Wouldn’t it all be about loss of jobs and impact on the UK defence industry? We’d have more unemployed and, I’d expect, a smaller defence industry without a domestic armed forces to drive and fund development.

oo – good point – think of my pension!!

Rachel

We would have no power or influence in the world. People like to say ‘negotiation’ is the key, but nobody will negotiate unless you have something to back yourself up. Why do you think we’re so desperate to continue with a nuclear deterrent and other nations are so keen to get nukes? Its to increase their power and influence in the world.

It’d be no fun being an irrelevant nation relying on the kindness of other nations to look after us. Why should they? Why should other nations deploy troops to support us? We only have allies in the world due to mutual benefit. and our military protects our interests and provides that stability and security so others can take us seriously. It is of utmost importance for a trading nation.

Forget Spain being our nice friendly allies. Spain would have already invaded Gibraltar militarily if it wasn’t for our military. A work colleague of mine is ex-forces and was stationed in Gibraltar when the Falklands kicked off to do just that as part of an increased deployment there to prevent a military invasion whilst our attentions and resources were focussed elsewhere, such was the certainly that Spain would take advantage and invade.

And given that the prime purpose of the government is to guarantee the safety and security of the nation and the people, how could they do that without a serious military force?

costa rica manages without a military IIRC

Great article on this from (yikes!) 7 years ago.¨

” We can only meet realistic threats. We do not build 1,000 NHS hospitals and leave them to await the return of bubonic plague.”

” Some taxes are an insurance against future risk, such as being ill or having a sick relative. But they are usually subject to some actuarial assessment of the risk. Defence spending is insurance of a different order. We make no actuarial calculation of the risk of British citizens dying in a military attack or of British property being destroyed. Yet we are required to part with a premium of £45bn a year to prevent it. Why? “

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/nov/05/does-britain-need-the-military-army-navy-raf

We have only the illusion o0f power and influence – in reality we have none and wanting WMD so you cn throw yor weight around is ridiculous

Personally I would have a small but highly professional military for defense of these islands only.

We should build a wall.

That’ll keep those pesky Mexicans / West Germans / Picts out

I don’t think anyone would invade. If they did, what would they gain? If they were particularly shitty, there would be riots. If not, why would it bother us?

1 cruise missile into the only fast jet runway on the islands and you can land all the troops you like.

A sub sitting off the islands for as long as it feels like will make that a less tempting prospect

Who would be the first to invade?

Zimbabwe.

http://www.storypick.com/country-no-army/

as a world power, we are now a non entity.

I don’t think so, how many other countries in the world can send a fairly substantial expeditionary force to anywhere at a moments notice, backed up by a nuclear threat and almost global Signet coverage. Sure we aren’t the USA, Russia etc. but to think we are a non-entity is wildly wrong.

Why wouldn’t you invade? the UK is in a very strategic position between the Atlantic and mainland Europe, and with strategic assets around the globe. Look it isn’t going to happen anytime soon (or ever), but if we had no defence but a few farmers with pitch forks, then it could become a real threat.

With the talk on here or Spain invading Gibraltar it’s got me thinking…

Why would they want to invade Gibraltar? What’s in it for the Spanish?

A work colleague of mine is ex-forces and was stationed in Gibraltar when the Falklands kicked off to do just that as part of an increased deployment there to prevent a military invasion whilst our attentions and resources were focussed elsewhere, such was the certainly that Spain would take advantage and invade.

And yet Spain never did attempt to invade…

Why would they want to invade Gibraltar? What’s in it for the Spanish?

Gibraltar

Why would they want to invade Gibraltar? What’s in it for the Spanish?

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