Britain and the Confrontation with Indonesia, 1960-66

The 'Confrontation' is Britain's forgotten war. Yet as David Easter shows, it was a major commitment involving over 54,000 British servicemen and near-escalation into full-scale war with Indonesia. President Sukarno's 'Confrontation' of Indonesia was an attempt to destroy Britain's plans for Malayasia by guerilla warfare including air and sea landings, and Britain responded with a secret war by supporting rebel groups, propaganda and clandestine cross-border raids. Sukarno was finally overthrown by a pro-Western military government which renounced the Confrontation and accepted Malaysia. Britain's policy, however seemingly successful was, however, vital in her post-imperial retreat from empire and in abandoning her global defence role.