Reservists in the British armed forces will be asked to stay on call for an extra ten years in a bid to boost the UK’s preparations for war.
The latest move from the Ministry of Defence means ex-service personnel in the strategic reserve can be called into action until they’re 65, rather than 55 as is currently the case.
They will also face a lower threshold for being mobilised.
While the strategic reserve would only be used in moments of ‘national danger, great emergency or attack in the UK’ under current guidelines, this will change to ‘warlike preparations’.
The changes will make up part of a package of armed forces legislation to be published in Parliament later today, BBC News reported.
They will come into effect next year, if MPs and peers vote them through.
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The latest move comes amid a febrile global atmosphere, with eyes on the situation in countries such as Iran and Ukraine.
US President Donald Trump has also pushed for stronger defence from other members of Nato, and ramped up pressure in recent weeks with his threats to take over control of Greenland.
The size of the fully-trained British Army regular forces is currently smaller than at has been since Napoleonic times, with just over 66,000 in October last year.
According to government figures, there are around 95,000 members of the strategic reserve.
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