One of the most controversial issues in the domestic and foreign historiography is the question about the reasons for the beginning of the Cold War. The role of the UK in the beginning of the confrontation after World War II is poorly understood. Meanwhile, claiming to preserve the status of a great power, the country has sought to play an active role in the international arena. This article attempts to examine how the British political and military leadership in practice planning to use the economic resources and military capabilities of the Commonwealth and Empire in the Cold War.