The conference took place against the backdrop of increasing tensions between the Western allies and the Soviet Union, which eventually developed into the Cold War. The UK was then central in defining the post-war security order and was a prime mover with the US and other western European states in creating the panoply of international institutions that emerged after World War Two.
The UK continued to play a prominent role in the security environment after the Cold War and continued to punch above its weight in international affairs. More recently, the UK adopted a lower profile in selected areas of EU foreign and security policy, before deciding to leave the EU in The EU might be described as a civilian power that still is predominantly defined by its trade and economic powers rather than military capabilities, but it is not a politico-military dwarf.
This dualism is far too simplistic a view; it ignores the extent and depth of the European integration process in defence and security fields. Internal security cooperation in Justice and Home Affairs JHA matters is considerable and has gathered pace since the signing of the Maastricht Treaty. The European security environment transformed from the certainties of the Cold War to a more febrile security environment after This new environment was defined by intra-state conflict, non-state violence and non-traditional security threats.
The nature of these threats might change over time, but the post-war European security environment has proven relatively adaptable when crises emerge. The issues change over time, such as the recent trend towards populism and national solutions to solving problems, but the system has been relatively adaptable. Traditionally, the UK was a leading light in EU foreign and security policy, especially in the period since The UK and France were the leading military powers in the EU, as the only two member states with full spectrum military capabilities nuclear, conventional, cyber, and biological.
The British government believes that this will open up new opportunities for the UK globally in a range of fields. Many EU member state governments are doubtful that the UK will be able to achieve global salience as a medium-sized power between Europe, America, and China in the wider world.
