East of Suez was a term used in British military and political discussions. It referred to British territory, interests, and bases east of the Suez Canal, which was once the lifeline of the British Empire. Bases in the Mediterranean Sea, and those east of Suez, were used to protect British India, the "jewel in the crown of the British Empire," as well as possessions even further east, related to Malaya, China, and the Pacific Ocean. After Indian independence in 1947 and Britain's political defeat in the Suez War of 1956, lessening the reliability for the British of use of the canal, the remaining bases east of the Suez diminished in importance and were often a financial handicap. Nevertheless, Britain fought unsuccessfully to keep Aden until 1967, granting Singapore independence in 1963. Hong Kong was transferred to the People's Republic of China in 1997. Britain's remaining possessions east of Suez are the British Indian Ocean Territory and Pitcairn, but they as they are not related to the defense of any imperial possessions in the area, they are not referred to as such.

Britain's ghurka units also maintained a small base in Brunei after the latter's independence in 1984, due to possible Malaysian irredentism.