Britain's defence chief warns of 'third world war' risk because of pandemic fallout

Gen Sir Nick Carter says errors of judgment could ultimately lead to widespread conflict

A bouquet of flowers are placed at the grave of the Unknown Warrior to mark Remembrance Sunday at Westminster Abbey in London. AFP

The head of Britain's armed forces said that global uncertainty and anxiety during the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic could risk another world war.

Gen Sir Nick Carter, Britain's chief of the defence staff, said an escalation in regional tensions and errors of judgment could ultimately lead to widespread conflict.

His comments came as the nation prepared to commemorate Remembrance Sunday to recognise those killed and wounded in conflict.

"I think we are living at a moment in time where the world is a very uncertain and anxious place and, of course, the dynamic of global competition is a feature of our lives as well. The real risk we have with quite a lot of the regional conflicts that are gong on at the moment, is you could see escalation lead to miscalculation," he told Sky News.

Asked if that meant there was a genuine threat of another world war, Gen Carter replied: "I'm saying it's a risk and we need to be conscious of those risks."

The senior officer, who became Britain's military chief in 2018, said it was important to remember those who had died in previous wars as a warning to those who might repeat past mistakes.

"If you forget about the horror of war, then the great risk is that people might think that going to war is a reasonable thing to do," he said.

"We have to remember that history might not repeat itself but it has a rhythm, and if you look back at the last century, before both world wars, I think it was unarguable that there was escalation that led to the miscalculation which ultimately led to war at a scale we would hopefully never see again."

In a separate interview with Times Radio, Gen Carter said he was not comfortable with the military being used to police coronavirus lockdowns, saying that is "not what the military is for".