The UK Defence Forum was created in 1996 to inform the defence, security and peace debate by enabling politicians, diplomats, senior members of the armed forces, public servants, defence professionals, academics and others with an interest in defence and security to exchange information and views on the future challenges of Britains' defence, by preparing and publishing research papers, including the Defence Viewpoints blog, and by facilitating study visits. It is a non-partisan and not-for-profit organisation which holds no views of its own, and supports All Party Parliamentary Groups covering the Armed Forces at their request.