Abstract
This Adelphi Paper argues that the AIDS pandemic is not only a health and development issue, but also a strategic one. Drawing on examples from Africa and Asia, it explores the impact of HIV/ AIDS on the armed forces and state stability of the worst affected countries, and anticipates the future implications this is likely to have for international security. It concludes by outlining how the security sector can make an important contribution to wider international efforts to reduce the spread of the illness.