The period from 1946 to 1989 was defined by two major global forces: the Cold War and the process of decolonisation. The British military played a key role in both, engaging in conflicts across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.

As the world emerged from the devastation of the Second World War, tensions between the Western Allies and the Soviet Union escalated into a prolonged geopolitical struggle. The British Armed Forces were on the frontline of this confrontation, maintaining a strategic presence in Germany and beyond.

At the same time, Britain was engaged in a series of conflicts as former colonies sought independence. The military was involved in counterinsurgency operations in Malaya, Kenya, Aden, and Cyprus, among others, as Britain navigated the complex and often violent process of decolonisation.