In this episode of Fault Lines, Rod Whiting speaks with broadcaster and Times columnist Edward Lucas, with more than four decades of experience covering European and security affairs, about a question the UK can no longer avoid: how prepared are we, really?
Drawing on decades covering Russia and European security, Lucas argues that Britain has spent too long assuming threats would remain distant - and that this complacency has left the country dangerously exposed.
From drone attacks launched close to home, to sabotage risks beneath the sea, to the quiet reality of ongoing “active measures” against the UK, this conversation explores the gap between perception and preparedness - and why closing it may now be far more difficult than many assume.
But this isn’t just a warning.
Lucas sets out where resilience can still be built - from strengthening cooperation with more threat-aware allies - such as the Nordics, Baltics, and Poland - to practical steps individuals can take now to be better prepared for disruption.
The discussion covers:
- What “national resilience” actually means in 2026
- Why public awareness still lags behind the threat
- The role of information, disinformation, and public disengagement
- What the UK can realistically learn from countries like Finland
- Why resilience must be built both at the national and individual levels.
Measured, grounded, and at times sobering, this is a clear-eyed look at Britain’s resilience gap - and, even at the eleventh hour, the steps that could still make a difference.
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24 mins
33 mins