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 US government has recently shifted its approach to Ukraine, engaging in direct negotiations with Russia regarding the conflict’s resolution, pursuing a minerals agreement with Ukraine, and temporarily halting military aid and intelligence sharing. During these developments, the UK government has reaffirmed its support for Ukraine through financial and military assistance, in addition to hosting a peace summit and committing further military aid.
The global landscape has changed significantly over the last couple of decades. This has led to questions about the UK’s current global standing and its ambitions. This briefing considers these issues in the context of the UK’s membership of international organisations, and its defence policy, foreign policy, and influence through soft power, the economy and aid spending.
Looking at lessons from the war in Ukraine, the House of Lords International Relations and Defence Committee found the UK is “under-prepared” to meet the growing threat from Russia. The committee called on the government to commit to increasing and better targeting its defence spending and to leveraging the UK’s alliances. The government’s strategic defence review is due to report in spring 2025.
