The discussion quickly shifted to the broader issue of military capacity amid mounting pressures on Western forces, with former US National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster offering a stark assessment of the state of British Army capabilities to the journalists present, myself included.
To add context to his views, it is useful to recall the background of H.R. McMaster. Born on 24 July 1962 in Philadelphia, McMaster hails from a military family and graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1984. During the Gulf War, then-Captain McMaster commanded Eagle Troop in the Battle of 73 Easting, where his decisive leadership resulted in the destruction of 28 Iraqi tanks in a mere 23 minutes—an achievement that earned him the Silver Star and established his reputation as a formidable tactician. This performance is still widely studied in military circles as a model of effective combat leadership.
After the Gulf War, McMaster furthered his education by earning a PhD in American history from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His subsequent work, notably the bestselling book Dereliction of Duty, critiqued past military leadership during the Vietnam War and reshaped discussions on strategic command. He continued to command key units, including the 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment in Germany and the 3rd Armoured Cavalry Regiment in Iraq, where his innovative counterinsurgency tactics proved decisive.
In February 2017, McMaster was appointed the 25th United States National Security Advisor under President Donald Trump—a role in which he emphasised strength and burden sharing among allies. Even after resigning in April 2018, he has remained influential as a lecturer and strategic adviser, lending considerable weight to his insights at forums such as the CEPA briefing.
Commenting on the capacity of European armed forces at the briefing, McMaster stated emphatically:
“Look at the British Army right now. I mean, it makes me want to cry, almost.”
He explained that while the British Army remains professional and capable, it now lacks the necessary capacity to sustain large-scale operations. He elaborated that this shortfall is not unique to the UK but is symptomatic of a broader issue affecting Western militaries—a consequence of post-Cold War defence strategies.
“We’ve been on this model for a long time that we could achieve security by investing more and more money in fewer and fewer exquisite systems. We traded off the size of the force for capabilities, but what we’re seeing in Ukraine is a return to the importance of force size. The capacity of the force matters.”
He warned that if the multinational force intended to enforce a ceasefire in Ukraine is not credible, it risks becoming “a really tempting target for Putin,” potentially undermining Western credibility. McMaster underscored that any such force must not only counter conventional military threats but also be resilient against hybrid warfare and non-traditional forms of aggression.
“Any force that comes must be capable of defeating all forms of Russian aggression—conventional, hybrid, and beyond. Without reflecting the military realities on the ground, there’s never been a favourable political outcome to a war.”
These remarks come at a time when European leaders, including those in Britain, are grappling with significant capacity challenges and contemplating major reforms to modernise their armed forces. McMaster’s pointed observation about the British Army encapsulated the urgency of reassessing defence capabilities in light of the current geopolitical landscape.
As the briefing concluded, the panel’s discussion on military capacity—bolstered by McMaster’s extensive military background and candid comments—highlighted a critical need for renewed investment and strategic planning among Western allies to ensure a credible deterrent and sustainable peace in Ukraine.
To add some balance here, I asked a currently serving senior officer about the remarks. Wishing to remain unnamed, he told me “The British Army is currently meeting every commitment we’re asked to”.
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Lt Col Stuart Crawford is a defence analyst and former army officer. Sign up for his podcasts and newsletters at www.DefenceReview.uk
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