This landing page features a new series of Commons Library briefings on the policies, capabilities and programmes of the nuclear weapon states.
Documents to download
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UK relations with Russia 2016 (256 KB, PDF)
The UK has had a particularly difficult relationship with Russia in recent years, more so than has been the case with other European countries.
The UK’s National Security Strategy places a higher emphasis on a potential threat from Russia than did its predecessor document in 2010.NATO has upgraded several facilities in response to the perceived threat from Russia, and the UK has been at the forefront among NATO member states calling for that upgrade and supporting it with military assets.
Controversial Russian figures living in the UK, many granted political asylum, have been at the root of some of the problems between the UK and Russian governments. The most important of these has been Alexander Litvinenko, who died in London 2006.
In 2016 a public inquiry concluded that the death was almost certainly caused by an operation of the Russian internal security service, the FSB, and that it was probably approved by Russian president Vladimir Putin.
The UK has also pressed the EU for a tough response to the annexation of Crimea and Russian actions in Ukraine
The UK’s trade relationship with Russia is modest and has decreased further recently.
Documents to download
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UK relations with Russia 2016 (256 KB, PDF)
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This paper provides details and links for ministerial statements and parliamentary debates (from both Houses of Parliament) that cover international affairs and defence.
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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.
