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How many different countries has Britain been at war with over the years?

  • THE ANSWER is complicated by the fact that many of Britain's former opponents do not coincide with present-day nations. For instance, Britain fought both Boers and Zulus, but does this count as a war with the Republic of South Africa? In many colonies there were wars against insurrectionists (Cyprus, Kenya, etc), but as these countries were not yet independent it may be debatable whether they count. Restricting myself to nations still recognisable today, my list reads as follows: France, the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Denmark, Italy, Austria, Bulgaria (?), Russia, Turkey, Persia, Afghanistan, Nepal, China, Japan, Burma, Indonesia, Ethiopia, Egypt, Argentina, United States (and North Korea and Iraq, if UN operations count). Any additions?

    Hans Hamersma, Oss, Netherlands (hamersmj@am.vesta)
  • SURELY the matter is further complicated by the identity of Britain. Do you only count wars we had as the UK or does conquering Ireland count? What about the various Saxon/Viking/German/Roman skirmishes? What about evidence that Normans and Celts - our ancestors - warred with countries as diverse as Egypt and Morocco?

    Jonathan Chowns, University of Sussex, Brighton (
  • Britain is still at war in Ireland. You may class their roles in Africa etc as skirmishes, or tribal clashes. The point is that Britain pursued a policy of divide and conquer amongst many nations, the effects of which is evident in most trouble spots in the world.

    Andy Connolly, Navan, Ireland
  • One - itself! Other countries have a only a symbolic purpose in the running of wars.

    Tom McMaster, Manchester, UK
  • In my view every single country in the world apart from the following: Burundi,Cape Verde,Dominican Republic,French Southern Territories,Guinea-Bissau Macedonia,Northern Mariana Islands,Sao Tome And Principe,United States Minor Outlying Islands,Western Sahara. This is an indirect answer however, since this does take into account the following: 1) previous sovereignty by third parties of land now sovereign itself. 2)attempted seizures 3)established bases 4)engagements within territories against third parties. 5)wars of independence against third parties backed by the government. 6)dominions, condominiums, colonies, mandates, occupations,invasions,civil wars,conflicts,dependencies,discovery naming and exploration,raids,indirect invasion by association, low intensity war,NATO actions,protectorates, peacekeeping,declarations of war,territories,gunboat diplomacy.Revolutionary support acts, militarily aided humanitarian aid,rescue missions and claims. 7)arguable incidences of informal empire by preference of trade, investment, property and industry backed by military assistance or threat. 8)Major incidents not resulting in war but with diplomatic victory. 9)Territories by association. The reason I have listed all of these is that native populations,lands, third parties, sovereignty or economies have all at one time or another been directly or indirectly affected by these "actions". Perhaps this is not a very good answer but there we are.

    Mike Slammer, Hertfordshire United Kingdom
  • You have to remember Finland. UK declared war on Finland during the Continuation War (1941-44), but they never sent any soldiers to aid the Soviets.

    Janne Oksamaa, Helsinki Finland
  • I dont think Britain has been to war with Portugal either since we have been allies with them since the 1300s or so.

    Josh Sedgwick, Bishop Auckland, Durham

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