The UK is locked in a “race” to bulk up its security before Putin strikes, according to one of NATO’s top admirals. Pierre Vandier, NATO’s supreme allied commander “transformation” – in charge of updating the alliance’s military structures – has warned Russia may seek to “exploit cracks” and launch an “opportunistic attack” before members of the alliance begin spending 5% of GDP on defence.

Admiral Vandier, 57, referencing the possibility of a Russian attack on NATO before major defensive investments are made, told The House magazine: “This possibility brings a sense of urgency amongst the allies. We can’t say it will not happen. I’m not able to say what will go on in the future. But I definitely can say it’s a race, and so each minute, each week, each month, each year counts.”

The UK, Admiral Vandier argues, must step into the shoes of the US and underpin Europe’s intelligence-led security. Advanced Command, Control, Communications, Computers Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, known in military circles as C4ISR, is an area where the US has led the way in NATO.

However, the Trump administration has signalled explicitly that the US will be moving away from defending Europe and concentrating more on the threats posed by communist Beijing. Admiral Vandier indicated that Washington’s retreat from Europe would likely include C4ISR, meaning another NATO member would need to fill the void – he believes the UK is the most suitable candidate.

“The US may lack satellite people, analysts and brain time if they are focused on China… and not be able to help the Europeans to build their joint prioritised target list [for a Nato military operation],” he said. “I think the UK has this in its DNA and so may be useful to build this new generation of C4ISR in Nato”, he added.

Meanwhile, the National Security Strategy has warned Brits about the possibility of a “wartime scenario” hitting the UK mainland. “For the first time in many years, we have to actively prepare for the possibility of the UK homeland coming under direct threat potentially in a wartime scenario”, it said.

“The years ahead will test the United Kingdom… The direction it takes – and the decisions we take – will reverberate through the decades”, the report ends.