The UK is sending 250 soldiers to Mali to join the UN peacekeeping mission in 2020. Mali faces considerable political, security and governance challenges, compounded by a military coup in August 2020. This Commons Library briefing paper looks at the deployment and the situation in Mali.
Documents to download
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Military balance in Southeast Asia (796 KB, PDF)
Southeast Asia is a region of vast untapped natural resources, home to some of the world’s most important maritime trade routes and an area with a significant number of longstanding territorial disputes, in particular in the South China Sea.
In the last few years the geopolitical balance in the region has begun to shift, primarily in response to China’s economic and military rise, but also as a result of the perception that US interest in the region has waned since 9/11. While relations with China have been generally positive, there has been an increasing anxiety among Southeast Asian states over China’s military assertiveness in the region, and in particular the inclusion of the South China Sea in those areas that China considers constitute its “core interests”.
As a result many countries have sought to reinvigorate relations with the US and other global powers in order to balance the hegemonic rise of China; while at the same time significantly increasing defence spending and pursuing ambitious modernisation programmes for their respective militaries. Such developments have led many to argue that the region is on the brink of a potential arms race as states look to defend their national interests in the region and in particular their access to energy and other natural resources.
Documents to download
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Military balance in Southeast Asia (796 KB, PDF)
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A general debate on the Rohingya humanitarian crisis and the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic has been scheduled for Thursday 24 September 2020 in the Main Chamber. This debate was selected by the Backbench Business Committee.
