8.5: Global Conflicts and the Coalition Government

Conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq

UK Involvement in Global Conflicts

In the 1990s, Britain took a leading role in coalition forces involved in various international conflicts. These included the liberation of Kuwait after the Iraqi invasion in 1990 and military interventions in the former Republic of Yugoslavia.

Since 2000, British armed forces have been engaged in the global fight against international terrorism and efforts to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. These operations have included missions in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Iraq

British combat troops left Iraq in 2009, after several years of operations that followed the 2003 invasion. The aim was to remove Saddam Hussein’s regime and eliminate the threat of weapons of mass destruction. Following the withdrawal, the UK’s military involvement in Iraq has been reduced, though some advisory and support roles remain.

Afghanistan

The UK continues to operate in Afghanistan as part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), a United Nations (UN)-mandated coalition comprising 50 nations. The ISAF, operating with the consent of the Afghan government, is tasked with ensuring that Afghanistan can no longer serve as a safe haven for international terrorist groups, such as Al Qa’ida.

ISAF also plays a key role in building up the Afghan National Security Forces and creating an environment where governance and development can be strengthened. The aim is to gradually transfer security responsibility to the Afghans, with the goal of full Afghan security control in all provinces by the end of 2014.

Coalition Government from 2010 Onwards

Formation of the Coalition

In May 2010, the General Election resulted in a hung parliament for the first time since February 1974, meaning no single political party won an overall majority. As a result, the Conservative Party and the Liberal Democrats formed a coalition government. David Cameron, the leader of the Conservative Party, became Prime Minister, with Nick Clegg, leader of the Liberal Democrats, serving as Deputy Prime Minister.