The dwindling British army will not be able to fight Russia and is now less than HALF the size of the German army, says EU general

ALARM bells are ringing in Europe about Britain’s ability to fight with its rapidly shrinking armed forces.

A senior official warned that “size matters” as the Army drops to an all-time low of just 73,000 trained soldiers.

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France has more than 110,000 soldiers, while Germany is increasing its total armed forces to more than 200,000 personnel.

An EU general told The Sun: “There is concern about British Army.

“You must have mass, you must have numbers.

“In Ukraine, as you can see, we need mass to fight the Russian army.”

A second general, speaking on condition of anonymity, said “the British Army is still in decline.”

He added: “None of the recent announcements have changed the direction of this.”

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has promised to increase defense spending to 2.5 percent of GDP by 2030.

But he maintains plans to reduce the army to 73,000 – the smallest size in 300 years.

The Sun revealed that the Army’s budget is being cut, despite the Prime Minister’s promise of a £75 billion defense boost.

Cuts worth hundreds of millions will fund new Tempest jets for the RAF and warships for the Royal Navy.

It means plans for new air defense missiles – like Israel’s Iron Dome – will be put on the back burner.

The Ministry of Defense said the cuts were routine “budget relaxation”.

But it follows a warning that America cannot plug gaps in the British army if the flag is raised for all-out war.

General Randy George, head of the US Army, said “it would be difficult for another army” – like the US – to help.

He said: “What would I like from the British Army? You have to have magazine depth.

“Whatever your formations, do you have all the ammunition you need to sustain yourself during a long fight?”

Crucially, he added: “If you are going to fight, make sure you have all the capabilities on the battlefield, because it will be difficult for another army to provide that.”

Major General James Martinhead of the UK’s main combat division, warned that his force was “less resilient” due to shortages.

Asked whether the Army was large enough to field a combat division – a measure of Britain’s power and a key commitment to NATO – Gen Martin said: “It depends on what you mean by combat division.”

A division has 3,000 to 5,000 men and typically consists of three brigades.

But the 3rd Division, which he commanded, destroyed only one and a half brigades.

It remains Britain’s main fighting force, designed to face a Russian equivalent.

But the International Institute for Strategic Studies think tank warned – before the war in Ukraine – that it was “highly likely that a Russian armored division would overcome this much weaker British formation”.

Gen Martin insisted: “By NATO standards, we can put a combat division on the ground.”

But he admitted: “There are areas where it would be less resilient. That’s why you have partners.”

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