Through a literature mapping exercise, this paper examines how gender and national security are and can be linked. It focuses specifically on the utility of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda for the United Kingdom’s (UK)) national security orientation and argues that paying attention to gender issues is important for a holistic understanding of peace and security. Yet, drawing on the literature, this exercise demonstrates that there are tensions inherent in defining ‘national security’, thus problematising the link between gender and national security. To illustrate some of these tensions and risks, the paper examines the UK’s involvement in Afghanistan and its commitments to Ukraine, two conflict-affected high priority contexts for the UK.