United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Britain) is a close ally of the United States and has participated with it in a number of peacekeeping and combat operations since 1989. Militarily, the United Kingdom is not in the very top tier of world powers, but it possesses well-trained and up-to-date forces that can be effectively deployed far beyond its borders.

The United Kingdom is a chain of islands off the western coast of Europe that constitute one sovereign nation. By far the largest of these, in size and population, is the island of Britain. The United Kingdom’s population is about 62 million; its capital is London.

The United Kingdom is a parliamentary monarchy, with a House of Commons elected by universal suffrage and possessing ...