This is a list of countries without armed forces. The term "country" is used in the sense of independent state; thus, it applies only to sovereign states and not dependencies whose defense is the responsibility of another country or an army alternative. The term "armed forces" refers to any government-sponsored defense used to further the domestic and foreign policies of their respective government.A Some of the countries listed, such as Iceland, San Marino, and Saint Kitts and Nevis, have no armed forces, but still have a non-police military force.[1][2][3]
Countries listed here typically have had a long-standing agreement with a former occupying country; for instance, the case between Monaco and France, which has existed for at least 300 years.[4] Monaco, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Palau have no say in their respective country's defense matters, and have little say in international relations.[4][5][6][7] For example, when Micronesia negotiated a defensive agreement with the United States, it did so from a weak position because it had grown heavily dependent on American assistance.[8] Andorra can request defensive aid if necessary, while Iceland had a unique agreement with the United States that lasted until 2006, which requires them to provide defense to Iceland when needed.[1][9] The remaining countries are responsible for their own defense, and operate without any armed forces. Some of the countries, such as Costa Rica, Dominica, and Grenada, underwent a process of demilitarization.[3][10] Other countries were formed without armed forces, such as Andorra over 700 years ago;[9] the primary reason being that they were, or still are, under protection from another nation at their point of independence. All of the countries on this list are considered to be in a situation of "non-militarization."[11]
| Country | Comments |
| Andorra | Defense of the country is the responsibility of France and Spain. Similar treaties were made with both nations on June 3, 1993. |
| Costa Rica | Costa Rica is the first country to formally abolish military forces. The constitution has forbidden a standing military since 1949. The Civil Guard has limited military capabilities. Seat of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights and the United Nations' University for Peace. |
| Dominica | Has not had a standing army since 1981 due to an attempted army coup. Defense is the responsibility of the Regional Security System. |
| Grenada | Has not had a standing army since 1983 due to an American-led invasion. Defense is the responsibility of the Regional Security System. |
| Haiti | Haiti's military disbanded in June 1995, but rebels have demanded its re-establishment. The 6,000 strong Haitian National Police maintains some paramilitary units; these units are considered to be larger than what is required, considering the much smaller militaries of neighboring countries. |
| Iceland | Has not had a standing army since 1869, but is a member of NATO. There is a defense agreement with the United States, which maintained an Iceland Defense Force and a military base in the country from 1951 to September 2006. Even though Iceland does not have any armed forces, it still maintains an expeditionary peacekeeping forces, an air defense system, a coast guard, a police service, and a tactical police force. |
| Kiribati | The only forces permitted are the police and the coast guard. Defense assistance is provided by Australia and New Zealand. |
| Liechtenstein | Abolished their army in 1868 because it was deemed too costly. Army is only permitted in times of war, but this situation has never occurred. According to the CIA World Factbook, defense is the responsibility of Switzerland. However, official sources of both Switzerland and Liechtenstein do not provide any backing to this claim and no defense treaty is ever mentioned. |
| Marshall Islands | Defense is the responsibility of the United States. |
| Mauritius | Has had a paramilitary police force and coast guard since 1968. |
| Federated States of Micronesia | Defense is the responsibility of the United States. Maintains a small paramilitary police force. |
| Monaco | Renounced its military investment in the 17th century because the advancement in artillery technology had rendered it defenseless. Defense is the responsibility of France. Two small military units protect the Prince and judiciary, and provide Civil Defense coverage. |
| Nauru | Though Nauru has close ties with Australia, there is no known defense agreement between the two nations. |
| Palau | Palau is the only country with an anti-nuclear constitution (adopted 1979), along with the Philippines. Defense is the responsibility of the United States. |
| Panama | Abolished their army in 1990, which was confirmed by a parliamentary unanimous vote for constitutional change in 1994. The Panamanian Public Forces, including the National Police and Army, National Maritime Service, National Air Service, and Institutional Security Service, have some warfare capabilities. Defense is the responsibility of Colombia and the United States. |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | A small defense force is maintained for internal purposes. Defense is the responsibility of Regional Security System. |
| Saint Lucia | A special service unit is maintained for internal purposes. Defense is the responsibility of Regional Security System. |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | A special service unit is maintained for internal purposes. Defense is the responsibility of Regional Security System. |
| Samoa | Does not have a standing army. New Zealand can be called upon for military aid per a 1962 agreement. |
| San Marino | Maintains a volunteer military force, a gendarmerie, a police force and a border patrol. The military also includes ceremonial units such as the Crossbow Corps and the Military Band. There is no standing defense treaty with Italy. |
| Solomon Islands | Had a heavy ethnic conflict between 1998 and 2006, in which Australia, New Zealand and other Pacific countries intervened to restore peace and order. No standing army. |
| Tuvalu | Has no army, but its police force includes a Maritime Surveillance Unit. |
| Vatican City | Maintains a Gendarmerie Corps for internal policing. The largely ceremonial Swiss Guard is a unit belonging to the Holy See, not the Vatican City State. There is no defense treaty with Italy, as it would violate the Vatican's neutrality. The Palatine Guard and Noble Guard were abolished in 1970. |
The terms country, state, and nation can have various meanings. Therefore, diverse lists of these entities are possible. Wikipedia offers the following lists:
* the list of countries, listing countries in the sense of independent states (both those that are internationally recognized and generally unrecognized), inhabited dependent territories, and areas of special sovereignty.
* the list of sovereign states, listing sovereign states with information on the extent of their sovereignty. It includes both states widely recognized (de jure) to be sovereign and entities that claim sovereignty while exercising de facto control over (part of) their claimed territory.
Related lists are the lists of federations, unrecognized countries, autonomous areas, dependent territories, and territorial disputes. In some contexts country and state is also used for some subnational entities.[12] More lists of countries can be found at the lists of countries.
References
Specific
1. ^ a b c Iceland Defense Force. Global Security. Retrieved on 2008-02-27.
2. ^ a b San Marino Defense Forces - 1991. CIA World Factbook. Retrieved on 2008-02-27.
3. ^ a b c d e f g Treaty Establishing the Regional Security System (1996). United States Department of State. Retrieved on 2008-02-27.
4. ^ a b c Monaco signs new treaty with france. Monaco Consulate. Retrieved on 2008-02-27.
5. ^ a b Background Note: Marshall Islands. United States Department of State. Retrieved on 2008-02-27.
6. ^ a b Inspection of Embassy Kolonia, Federated States of Micronesia (ISP-I-02-09). United States Department of State. Retrieved on 2008-02-27.
7. ^ a b PALAU. Encyclopedia of the Nations. Retrieved on 2008-02-27.
8. ^ Hara, Kimie. Micronesia and the Postwar Remaking of the Asia Pacific: "An American Lake". Japan Focus. Retrieved on 2008-03-01.
9. ^ a b c Andorra Defense Forces - 1990. CIA World Factbook (1990). Retrieved on 2008-02-27.
10. ^ a b Costa Rica. World Desk Reference. Retrieved on 2008-02-27.
11. ^ Non-militarization. Demilitarization. Retrieved on 2008-02-27.
12. ^ E.g. the constituent countries of the United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales).
13. ^ Haiti. World Desk Reference. Retrieved on 2008-02-27.
14. ^ Kiribati Defense Forces - 1991. CIA World Factbook. Retrieved on 2008-02-27.
15. ^ Background Note: Liechtenstein. United States Department of State. Retrieved on 2008-02-27.
16. ^ Background Note: Mauritius. United States Department of State. Retrieved on 2008-02-27.
17. ^ Nauru Defense Forces - 1991. CIA World Factbook. Retrieved on 2008-02-27.
18. ^ The Panama Defense Forces. Library of Congress. Retrieved on 2008-02-27.
19. ^ Samoa. The World Factbook. Retrieved on 2008-02-27.
20. ^ Australian defence presence in solomon islands. Australian Government Department of Defense. Retrieved on 2008-02-27.
21. ^ Country Context. World Health Organization. Retrieved on 2008-02-27.
22. ^ Vatican City. World Desk Reference. Retrieved on 2008-02-27.
Source WIKI
