The Cost of Conflict - A Comprehensive Look at UK Military Engagements Since World War II

14th December 2025

Since the end of the Second World War in 1945, the United Kingdom has been involved in a remarkable number of military operations across the globe, ranging from full-scale wars to peacekeeping missions and counter-terrorism interventions.

These engagements have shaped not only British foreign policy but also the nation's economic priorities and the lives of countless service personnel.

Understanding the scale, scope, and cost of these operations provides important context for both current events and long-term national security planning.

Post-WWII Military Involvement

The UK's military history after 1945 includes a mix of conventional wars, counterinsurgency campaigns, and peacekeeping operations. Some of the most significant conflicts include:

Malayan Emergency (1948-1960): A counterinsurgency campaign against communist guerrillas, aimed at preserving British control in Malaya.

Korean War (1950-1953): Part of United Nations forces fighting against North Korea and China.

Suez Crisis (1956): A controversial invasion of Egypt alongside France and Israel, following the nationalisation of the Suez Canal.

Aden Emergency (1963-1967): Military action in the then-British colony of Aden, now part of Yemen.

The Troubles (1969-1998): Prolonged internal security operations in Northern Ireland, with significant British Army deployment.

Falklands War (1982): A brief but intense conflict against Argentina over the Falkland Islands.

Gulf War / Operation Granby (1990-1991): Coalition operations to liberate Kuwait from Iraqi occupation.

Balkans (1992-1999): Peacekeeping and NATO air campaigns in Bosnia and Kosovo.

Sierra Leone (2000): UK intervention to support the government against rebel forces.

Afghanistan / Operation Herrick (2001–2021): The UK's longest deployment, part of the US-led coalition against the Taliban.

Iraq War / Operation Telic (2003–2011): Invasion and stabilization operations following Saddam Hussein's overthrow.

Libya (2011): NATO-led air campaign against the Gaddafi regime.

Syria & Iraq (2014–present): Combatting ISIS/Daesh through airstrikes, intelligence, and training missions under Operation Shader.

In addition to these major operations, the UK has been involved in numerous smaller deployments, including peacekeeping missions in Cyprus, Somalia, South Sudan, and maritime security patrols off Somalia to counter piracy.

Current UK Military Engagements

Even though the UK is not involved in a large-scale conventional war today, British forces remain active worldwide in various capacities. Modern deployments include:

Counter-terrorism & Anti-ISIS Operations: Operation Shader continues in Iraq and Syria, involving air support, intelligence, surveillance, and training local forces. Although ISIS has lost its territorial stronghold, insurgent threats persist.

Middle East Operations: RAF aircraft have participated in coalition airstrikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen and continue surveillance and contingency deployments amid regional tensions.

Maritime Security: Operation Kipion maintains naval and air presence in the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean, ensuring stability and protecting shipping lanes.

NATO Deterrence: British troops are deployed in Eastern Europe, particularly Estonia, to strengthen allied defence and deter aggression. Carrier strike groups and naval patrols also operate in strategic locations globally.

Peacekeeping and Training: UK personnel support UN missions and provide training to partner forces worldwide, including Iraq, Kurdish forces, and other coalition partners.

Intelligence & Surveillance: RAF reconnaissance missions continue over key regions, including the Middle East, supporting coalition and UK national security objectives.

Across these missions, approximately 5,600 regular UK forces personnel are deployed overseas in 2025, across roughly 60 operations in 44 countries, illustrating the breadth and complexity of British military commitments.

Financial Cost of Military Operations

Military operations are expensive, both in the short and long term. Independent analyses and official Ministry of Defence data reveal the following:

Afghanistan (Operation Herrick): Approximately £19–20 billion in direct operational costs.

Iraq (Operation Telic): Around £8–9 billion, with additional support for post-invasion stabilization.

Gulf War (Operation Granby, 1990–1991): About £2.43 billion, partially reimbursed by allies.

Libya (2011): Initial operational costs estimated at £1.4–1.75 billion for the first months of the campaign.

Other smaller operations: Costs cumulatively added several billion pounds over the decades, including Bosnia, Kosovo, and Sierra Leone.

Current Operations (2023–2024): The MoD spent around £2.6 billion on ongoing overseas operations, covering incremental deployment costs above the peacetime defence budget.

These figures primarily include fuel, ammunition, logistics, and urgent operational requirements, but do not account for regular personnel pay, long-term veterans' care, equipment replacement, or interest on borrowed funds used to finance the wars, meaning the true lifetime cost is substantially higher.

The Broader Implications

The UK's military engagements since 1945 reflect a strategy of global presence, coalition partnerships, and crisis response, from conventional wars to counter-terrorism and peacekeeping. However, the financial, human, and political costs have been significant. Iraq and Afghanistan alone have cost UK taxpayers £30 billion or more, highlighting the long-term economic burden of modern warfare.

These deployments also raise strategic and ethical questions about the nature of military involvement. While operations like counter-ISIS missions are framed as essential for national and global security, they require continuous funding, personnel, and political support, and often involve long-term commitments in regions far from the UK.

Since 1945, the UK has been involved in dozens of military conflicts, from Malaya to the Middle East, from Northern Ireland to Libya. Today, the UK maintains a broad array of overseas deployments, from anti-terrorism operations and NATO deterrence to maritime security and UN peacekeeping.

The cost of these actions has been enormous, with Iraq and Afghanistan alone exceeding £30 billion in direct operational spending, not including long-term support costs. This demonstrates that while military engagement is a tool of foreign policy, it comes with profound fiscal, human, and strategic consequences that last for decades.

Understanding the full scope of UK military involvement historically and today is essential for informed debate about defence spending, national priorities, and the role Britain plays on the global stage.

Main Countries Receiving UK Military Equipment

1. Ukraine — Major Military Aid Partner

The UK has been one of Ukraine’s largest military backers since Russia’s invasion in 2022.

As of early 2025, the UK government stated it had provided around £7.8 billion in military support to Ukraine, including weapons, drones, air defence systems, missiles and other systems.

Multiple aid packages have been announced, for example a £225 million package in late 2024 that included drones, air‑defence equipment and counter‑drone systems.

UK defence firms are also directly producing parts of Ukraine’s weapons — like artillery barrel forgings under contract, valued at £61 million.

A trade and defence cooperation mission between UK and Ukrainian defence companies reflects deep industrial ties.

Ukraine has become one of the top global importers of military equipment, including from the UK, with dramatic increases since 2020.

2. Saudi Arabia — Long‑Standing Export Partner

Saudi Arabia has been a major buyer of UK arms over recent years:

Between 2021 and 2024, Saudi Arabia was the largest recipient of UK arms exports in value terms, importing around £4.5 billion worth of equipment, including aircraft and missiles.

The UK government also has government‑to‑government cooperation programmes with Saudi Arabia that include Typhoon, Tornado and Hawk aircraft, plus associated infrastructure and support.
GOV.UK

These sales have been controversial because some UK‑made weapons were used by the Saudi‑led coalition in Yemen, where there have been significant civilian casualties.

3. Qatar and Gulf States

Other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have been significant purchasers:

Qatar has been recorded as a top recipient, historically receiving large exports of Typhoon fighter jets and other systems — for example around £2.7 billion in 2022 alone.

Smaller GCC states like the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain also import UK‑licensed equipment, from small arms components to naval gear.

4. United States and Western Allies

Although the US has its own large defence industry, it still imports some UK technology and military equipment:

Between 2021 and 2024 the US imported about £2.2 billion in UK defence exports, mostly components and specialist systems embedded in larger US platforms.

UK‑built aircraft parts, sensors and specialist equipment are among the types of products supplied.

5. Turkey

The UK has long‑term defence export relationships with Turkey:

UK arms export licences worth over £2 billion have been issued to Turkey since 2016, including equipment and technology such as aircraft components, weapon system parts and surveillance gear.

Turkey also participated with UK industry on joint projects such as the A400M military transport aircraft, where UK‑built components are integral.

6. Other Notable Export Recipients

Research by independent groups and official licensing data show a wide distribution of UK‑supplied military hardware:

Australia — e.g., surplus helicopters and aircraft components exported under government‑to‑government sales.

Romania — e.g., underwater vehicles and minehunter vessels.

India — a recent contract involves supplying lightweight multirole missiles worth around £350 million.

France and USA — inventories and components resold or transferred under licences.

Egypt, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Spain, South Korea, Canada, and others have also been significant licence recipients historically.

7. Past and Some Contested Exports

Certain countries have received UK‑made equipment under licence, even though they have faced criticism over human rights records or conflict involvement:

Israel has received military items including radars, components and parts; some shipments continuing even amid export restrictions — though government claims of compliance and legality are disputed by civil society researchers.

Older data and reports show UK‑licensed exports to countries such as Sri Lanka (small arms), Tunisia (ammunition) and China (components under licence) — though these often involve smaller quantities and are governed by licensing controls.

How Big Is UK Arms Trade?

Data from Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) places the UK among the top global arms exporters, usually ranking in the top ten worldwide. Between 2020 and 2024, the largest recipients were:

Qatar (28% of UK deliveries)

United States (16%)

Ukraine (10%) — a rapidly growing share due to conflict‑driven procurement.

How This Works in Practice

UK military exports are tightly regulated and require government licences, which are meant to ensure compliance with national and international law. However:

Licences can cover everything from combat aircraft and missiles to components, radars and small arms ammunition.

Governments differentiate between government‑to‑government deals (formal state agreements) and industry exports (commercial sales licensed by the UK).

Some supplies — particularly military aid or donated equipment like weapons sent to Ukraine — do not appear in standard export licence statistics but are still significant in volume and value.

Quick Summary: Recent Countries Supplied by the UK

A snapshot of important recent recipients:

Ukraine (major aid and weapons support)

Saudi Arabia (large arms exports)

Qatar & Gulf States (combat aircraft and systems)

United States (components and specialist equipment)

Turkey (equipment and collaboration)

India (missile supply agreement)

Australia & Romania (defence disposals and equipment)

Other EU and NATO allies (various systems)

Contested cases (e.g., Israel) — export figures exist but are debated.

The UK does not just project military power through its own armed forces — it is also a major supplier of military equipment and munitions worldwide. This includes:

Formal defence exports under licences

Government‑to‑government deals with allied militaries

Military aid programmes, especially to Ukraine

Surplus equipment transfers

These exports span Europe, the Middle East, Asia and beyond, and reflect a combination of industrial capability, strategic partnerships, and foreign policy priorities.