Iran War Delivers a Tough Lesson in Hard Power to the UK

(Matthew Savill – RUSI) The outbreak of a new war in the Middle East has led to questions about the UK’s relevance in international affairs. Alongside debates about legality and politics there are some hard truths about military power and the reality of the readiness of the UK’s armed forces. Pressure is growing for the deployment of more UK forces to the region and direct involvement in strikes, but the government will need to answer difficult questions about prioritisation and the effect that it might be trying to achieve. The consequence is that as much as intent and policy drive UK involvement, the practical realities will constrain what the UK can do. – Iran War Delivers a Tough Lesson in Hard Power to the UK | Royal United Services Institute