Editing British Empire (section)

=== Rivalry with Russia ===
{{Main|The Great Game}}
[[File:Relief of the Light Brigade.png|thumb|British cavalry charging against Russian forces at [[Battle of Balaclava|Balaclava]] in 1854]]
During the 19th century, Britain and the [[Russian Empire]] vied to fill the power vacuums that had been left by the declining [[Ottoman Empire]], [[Qajar dynasty]] and [[Qing dynasty]]. This rivalry in Central Asia came to be known as the "Great Game".{{Sfn|Hopkirk|1992|pp=1–12}} As far as Britain was concerned, defeats inflicted by Russia on [[Russo-Persian War (1826–1828)|Persia]] and [[Russo-Turkish War (1828–1829)|Turkey]] demonstrated its imperial ambitions and capabilities and stoked fears in Britain of an overland invasion of India.{{Sfn|James|2001|p=181}} In 1839, Britain moved to pre-empt this by invading [[Afghanistan]], but the [[First Anglo-Afghan War]] was a disaster for Britain.{{Sfn|James|2001|p=182}}

When Russia invaded the [[Rumelia|Ottoman Balkans]] in 1853, fears of Russian dominance in the Mediterranean and the Middle East led Britain and France to enter the war in support of the [[Ottoman Empire]] and invade the [[Crimean Peninsula]] to destroy Russian naval capabilities.{{Sfn|James|2001|p=182}} The ensuing [[Crimean War]] (1854–1856), which involved new techniques of [[modern warfare]],{{Sfn|Royle|2000|loc=preface}} was the only [[global war]] fought between Britain and another [[Imperialism|imperial power]] during the ''Pax Britannica'' and was a resounding defeat for Russia.{{Sfn|James|2001|p=182}} The situation remained unresolved in Central Asia for two more decades, with Britain annexing [[Baluchistan (Chief Commissioner's Province)|Baluchistan]] in 1876 and Russia annexing [[Kirghizia]], [[Kazakhstan]], and [[Turkmenistan]]. For a while, it appeared that another war would be inevitable, but the two countries reached an agreement on their respective [[Sphere of influence|spheres of influence]] in the region in 1878 and on all outstanding matters in 1907 with the signing of the [[Anglo-Russian Entente]].{{Sfn|Williams|1966|pp=360–373}} The destruction of the [[Imperial Russian Navy]] by the [[Imperial Japanese Navy]] at the [[Battle of Tsushima]] during the [[Russo-Japanese War]] of 1904–1905 limited its threat to the British.{{Sfn|Hodge|2007|p=47}}