Only a small minority of people in the United Kingdom say they would volunteer to fight if the country faced an invasion, according to a new survey that highlights public reluctance to take up arms in a national emergency.
When asked whether they would defend Britain in the event of an "imminent invasion," just 6% of respondents said they would volunteer to fight. More than half, 52%, said they would be unable to do so because of age or health-related reasons.
The poll also found that 14% of respondents said they would serve if they were formally called up, while 17% said they would refuse any order requiring them to defend the country.
According to the survey, Britain appears to trail several European countries in terms of public readiness for a large-scale military conflict. The findings come as governments across Europe continue to strengthen their armed forces and increase defense preparations amid concerns over a potential future confrontation with Russia.
The Daily Telegraph, which published the survey, said many European nations are accelerating rearmament efforts as they increasingly recognize that they cannot rely on Washington to guarantee their security to the same extent as in the past.
