The investigation of former British soldiers who served in Northern Ireland during “The Troubles” is receiving a significant amount of media and parliamentary attention as a result of several ongoing court cases. It is, however, the result of a process which began over a decade ago.
This briefing describes the main developments, since mid-2013, in long-running disputes over the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT), including reaction to the January 2021 ruling by the Special Chamber of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea in a dispute between Mauritius and Maldives over the delimitation of their maritime boundaries.
This landing page features a new series of Commons Library briefings on the policies, capabilities and programmes of the nuclear weapon states.
Research Briefing
After transition the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) provisions no longer apply to the UK and formal cooperation in these areas does not form part of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement reached at the end of December 2020. Instead, the UK Government envisages a flexible, ad hoc approach that will make use of channels of broader dialogue with the EU. How this will work in practice remains to be seen.
Research Briefing
After nearly two years of negotiation, on 5 November 2020 the EU agreed the rules on third state participation in its defence capability development initiative: PESCO. Post Brexit, those rules will now apply to the UK.
Research Briefing
There are 14 British Overseas Territories across the globe with a total population of 260,000. The Territories differ greatly in their level of economic and social development and their population size. Since March 2020 the UK Government has been working with the Overseas Territories to ensure they receive the help they need to manage outbreaks of Covid-19.
Research Briefing
The House of Commons Library has produced a new series of papers on the nuclear weapon states. This short paper provides an overview of the key facts.
Research Briefing
This paper briefly examines Russia's nuclear weapons policies, capabilities and programmes. It is one paper in a larger series on the nuclear weapon states.
Research Briefing
This paper briefly examines China's nuclear weapons policies, capabilities and programmes. It is one paper in a larger series on the nuclear weapon states.
Research Briefing
This paper briefly examines the nuclear weapons policies, capabilities and programmes of the United States. Under a Biden administration, a return to the nuclear polices of the Obama era is considered likely. This is one paper in a larger series on the nuclear weapon states.
Research Briefing
This paper briefly examines the UK's nuclear weapons policies, capabilities and programmes. It is one paper in a larger series on the nuclear weapon states.
Research Briefing
This paper briefly examines Israel's nuclear weapons policies, capabilities and programmes. It is one paper in a larger series on the nuclear weapon states.
Research Briefing
This paper briefly examines France's nuclear weapons policies, capabilities and programmes. It is one paper in a larger series on the nuclear weapon states.
Research Briefing
The next five-yearly Armed Forces Bill is due in 2021. The Government has said it will use the bill to further incorporate the Armed Forces Covenant into law. This Commons Library paper explains what the Covenant is, its current status in law and the Government’s proposals.
Research Briefing
This paper briefly examines North Korea's nuclear weapons policies, capabilities and programmes. It is one paper in a larger series of papers on the nuclear weapon states.
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