British military veterans as old as age 65 may be called up for service, the government has announced, as the country seeks to better prepare for war in the face of “global threats”.

The change is one of several reforms in upcoming legislation that seeks to expand the country’s “strategic reserve” pool of veterans and reservists who could be liable to be recalled in a crisis.

Currently, the recall liability for non-officer veterans in the British Army and the Royal Air Force ends either 18 years after discharge or at age 55, whichever comes first.

For Royal Navy or Royal Marines non-officer veterans, it is six years after discharge or at age 55, but this will increase to 18 years after discharge to “align” with the two services.

The changes in the Armed Forces Bill introduced to parliament on Thursday will come into effect from the spring of 2027, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said in a statement.

Those who have already left the military will not be affected unless they opt in.

“The Bill expands the reserve pool, allowing the most experienced volunteer reservists to step up and strengthen UK readiness as global threats continue to grow,” the MoD posted on X.

The changes will also lower the threshold for reservists to be recalled so that reservists can be recalled for “warlike preparations”.

Currently the threshold for mobilisation is a “national danger, great emergency or attack on the UK”.

“As the threat to our nation grows, we must ensure our Armed Forces can draw on the numbers and skills required to meet it,” Lieutenant General Paul Griffiths, who has been tasked with ensuring the UK is ready for combat, said as part of the MoD statement.

“These reforms will allow us to mobilise the talent rapidly when it matters most, strengthening our readiness and aligning with a similar approach many NATO forces are taking to bolster their own resilience.”

‘Shadow of war knocking on Europe’s door’

Around 95,000 people are estimated to be liable for recall as part of the strategic reserve, the statement said.

The change comes as the UK attempts to boost its military capabilities and the size of its force in the face of growing threats, particularly from Russia.

In December, Britain’s armed forces chief, Richard Knighton, issued a call for the country’s “sons and daughters” to be “ready to fight” in the face of growing threats.

British Armed Forces Minister Al Carns also warned last month that the “shadow of war knocking on Europe’s door”.

“That’s the reality. We’ve got to be prepared to deter it,” he said.

These would not be “wars of choice” but “wars of necessity” that will come with a high human cost, Mr Carns added.

“There’s a whole load of working going on now between (the Ministry of Defence), the Cabinet Office, and the whole of society approach, and what conflict means, and what everybody’s role in society means if we were to go to war and the build up to war,” he told Sky News UK.

“Collectively, everybody – what is their role if we get caught in an existential crisis, and what do they need to be aware they need to do and what they can’t do, and how do we mobilise the nation to support a military endeavour?

“Not just about deploying the military, but actually about protecting every inch of our own territory. That work is ongoing now, it’s rapidly developing.

“We’ve got to move as fast as we can to make sure that’s shored up.”

Mr Carns said the government must “make sure people understand, not to scare them, but to be realistic and understand where those threats are emanating from, and why defence and a whole society approach is so important”.