This House of Lords Library briefing has been prepared in advance of Armed Forces Day, which takes place on 30 June 2018.
Armed Forces Day: 30 June 2018 (193 KB , PDF)
Armed Forces Day was established in 2009, to provide an opportunity for the public to show their support for the Armed Forces, veterans, reservists and cadets. The host town for the 2018 national event is Llandudno, Wales. This briefing summarises: the background to Armed Forces Day; the events planned to take place at the national event in Llandudno; criticism of Armed Forces Day; and UK armed forces statistics.
Armed Forces Day: 30 June 2018 (193 KB , PDF)
The ‘Strategic defence review 2025’ (SDR) was published on 2 June 2025. Contending that the UK faces a generational defence and security challenge, the SDR makes 62 recommendations across the armed forces and wider society to meet this threat. The government has pledged to implement all those recommendations. However, critics question where the resources to meet the requirements of the SDR will come from, despite government pledges to raise defence spending levels.
The Chagos Archipelago has been the subject of a long-standing dispute over its sovereignty between the UK and Mauritius. Having been retained by the UK since 1965, the largest island, Diego Garcia, later became the site of a joint UK-US military base. In May 2025, the UK reached an agreement to transfer sovereignty of the islands back to Mauritius, while maintaining an initial 99-year lease of Diego Garcia. The agreement also includes security and financial provisions.
2025 marks the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day and Victory over Japan Day, events which in 1945 brought an end to the second world war. On those days 80 years ago, celebrations erupted across Britain. However, world leaders and domestic politicians were aware of the numerous problems still to be tackled, such as reconstruction, demobilisation and the legacy of the development and use of the atomic bomb.
