UDA (Ulster Defence Association)

The Ulster Defence Association (UDA) is a loyalist paramilitary group based in Northern Ireland. Formed in 1971, it aimed to defend the region's union with the United Kingdom during the Troubles, a conflict involving nationalist/republican groups seeking Irish unification. The UDA has been involved in violence, including attacks on Irish republicans and others perceived as threats. It was designated a terrorist organization by the UK government. In recent years, the UDA has engaged in political dialogue and attempted to distance itself from past violence while still maintaining its loyalist identity.