Britain and International Security

Is the UK retreating from its international role? With questions over the usefulness of the Afghan and Iraqi interventions, Parliament’s vote not to take military action in Syria, defence spending cuts and doubts about future membership of the EU, some argue that the UK seems to have stepped down somewhat from its previously high-profile role in trying to secure international peace and security. The UK’s overseas aid budget is, however, substantial - the second biggest of any single country after the US - and the UK continues to play a leading role on the United Nations Security Council and in NATO.