List of countries without armed forces

This is a list of countries without armed forces. The term country here means sovereign states and not dependencies (e.g., Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Bermuda), 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. Some of the countries listed, such as Iceland and Monaco, have no standing armies but still have a non-police military force.[1][2][3]

Countries without regular military forces
  States with no military forces
  States with no standing army, but with limited military forces

Many of the twenty-one countries listed here typically have had a long-standing agreement with a former occupying country; one example is the agreement between Monaco and France, which has existed for at least 300 years.[4][5] The Compact of Free Association nations of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), and Palau rely on the United States for their defense. They ensure their national security concerns are addressed through annual Joint Committee Meetings to discuss defense matters with US Pacific Command. Andorra has a small army, and can request defensive aid if necessary,[6][7] while Iceland had a unique agreement with the United States that lasted until 2006, which required them to provide defense to Iceland when needed.[8][9]

The remaining countries are responsible for their own defense, and operate either without any armed forces, or with limited armed forces. Some of the countries, such as Costa Rica and Grenada, underwent a process of demilitarization.[10][11][12] Other countries were formed without armed forces, such as Samoa over 60 years ago;[13] the primary reason being that they were, or still are, under protection from another nation at their point of independence.

Countries without armed forces
Countries with no official military forces
Country Comments Ref(s)
 Andorra Andorra has no standing army but signed treaties with Spain and France for its protection. Its small volunteer army is purely ceremonial in function. The paramilitary GIPA (trained in counter-terrorism and hostage management) is part of the national police. Defense assistance is provided by France and Spain under an informal agreement between the three countries. [14][15]
 Dominica Dominica has not had a standing army since 1981. Defense is the responsibility of the Regional Security System. [16]
 Grenada Has not had a standing army since the 1983 disbandment of the People's Revolutionary Army, after the US-led invasion. The Royal Grenada Police Force maintains a paramilitary special service unit for internal security purposes. Defence is the responsibility of the Regional Security System. [10]
 Kiribati Under the Constitution the only forces permitted are the police, which includes a Maritime Surveillance Unit for internal security. The Maritime Surveillance is equipped with small arms, and maintains one Pacific-class patrol boat, the Teanoai. Defence assistance is provided by Australia and New Zealand under an informal agreement between the three countries. [17][18][19]
 Liechtenstein Abolished its standing army in 1868 because it was deemed too costly. An army is only permitted in times of war, but that situation has never occurred. Liechtenstein maintains a police force with a police tactical unit, equipped with small arms to carry out internal security duties. Defense assistance is provided by Austria and Switzerland under an informal agreement among the three countries. [20][21]
 Marshall Islands Since the country's foundation the only forces permitted are the police, which includes a Maritime Surveillance Unit for internal security. The Maritime Surveillance Unit is equipped with small arms, and maintains one Pacific-class patrol boat, the Lomor. Under the Compact of Free Association, defense is the responsibility of the United States. [22][23][24]
 Federated States of Micronesia Since the country's foundation no military has been formed. The only forces permitted are the police, which maintain a Maritime Surveillance Unit for internal security. The Maritime Surveillance is equipped with small arms, and maintains three Pacific-class patrol boats, FSS Palikir, FSS Micronesia, and FSS Independence. Defense is the responsibility of the United States under the Compact of Free Association. [25][26][27]
 Nauru Australia is responsible for Nauru's defence under an informal agreement between the two countries. However, there is a relatively large armed police force, and an auxiliary police force for internal security. [28][29][30][31][32]
 Palau Since the country's foundation the only forces permitted are the police, which includes a 30-person Maritime Surveillance Unit for internal security. The Maritime Surveillance is equipped with small arms, and maintains one Pacific-class patrol boat, Remeliik, and one Japanese granted patrol boat, Kedam. Defense assistance is provided by the United States under the Compact of Free Association. [33][34][35]
 Saint Lucia The Royal Saint Lucia Police maintain two small paramilitary forces consisting of 116 people, the Special Service Unit, and the Coast Guard, both units are responsible for internal security. Defence is the responsibility of Regional Security System. [10][36][37]
 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines The Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force maintain two smallA paramilitary forces; the Special Service Unit, and the Coast Guard, which are responsible for internal security and patrolling coastal waters respectively. Virtually all Coast Guard Commanders have been officers from the Royal Navy. Defence is the responsibility of Regional Security System.
A(consisting of 94 people combined, as of 2012)
[10][38][39]
 Samoa Since the country's foundation no military has been formed; however, there is a small police force, and a Maritime Surveillance Unit for internal security. The Maritime Surveillance Unit is equipped with small arms, and maintains one Pacific-class patrol boat, the Nafanua. In accordance to a 1962 Treaty of Friendship, New Zealand is responsible for defence. [40][41][42]
 Solomon Islands Maintained a paramilitary force until a heavy ethnic conflict, in which Australia, New Zealand and other Pacific countries intervened to restore law and order. Since then no military has been maintained, however, there is a relatively large police force, and a Maritime Surveillance Unit for internal security. The Maritime Surveillance Unit is equipped with small arms, and maintains two Pacific-class patrol boats, the Auki and the Lata. Defence and policing assistance was the responsibility of the RAMSI until June 30, 2017. [43][44][45][46][47]
 Tuvalu Since the country's foundation no military has been formed; however, there is a small police force, and a Maritime Surveillance Unit for internal security. The Maritime Surveillance Unit is equipped with small arms, and maintains one Pacific-class patrol boat, the Te Mataili. [48][49]
  Vatican City Maintains a Gendarmerie Corps for internal policing. The Pontifical Swiss Guard is an armed unit charged with protecting the Pope, although it is officially under the authority of the Holy See, not the Vatican City State. There is no defense treaty with Italy, as it would violate the Vatican's neutrality, but informally the Italian Armed Forces protect Vatican City. The Palatine Guard and Noble Guard were abolished in 1970. [50][51][52][53]

Countries with no standing army but limited military
Countries with no standing army, but having limited military forces
Country Comments Ref(s)
 Costa Rica Article 12 of the Constitution has forbidden a standing army since 1949. It does have the Public Force with limited military capacities, whose main role includes law enforcement, internal security and command of the Air Vigilance Service. The Inter-American Court of Human Rights and the United Nations' University for Peace are headquartered in Costa Rica. [12][54]
 Iceland Has not had a standing army since 1869, but is an active member of NATO. There was a defense agreement with the United States, which maintained an Iceland Defense Force and a military base in the country from 1951 to 2006. Naval Air Station Keflavik closed in late 2006 after 55 years. However, the U.S. announced it would continue to provide for Iceland's defense, but without permanently basing forces in the country. Even though Iceland does not have a standing army, it still maintains a military expeditionary peacekeeping force, an air defence system, an extensive militarised coast guard, a police service, and a tactical police force. There are also agreements regarding military and other security operations with Norway, Denmark, and other NATO countries. [8][55][56][57][58][59][60]
 Mauritius Mauritius has not had a standing army since 1968. All military, police, and security functions are carried out by 10,000 active duty personnel under the command of the Commissioner of Police. The 8,000 member National Police Force is responsible for domestic law enforcement. There is also a 1,500 member Special Mobile Force, and a 500-member National Coast Guard, which are both considered paramilitary units. Both units are equipped with small arms. [61][62][63]
 Monaco Renounced its general military investment in the 17th century because the advancement in artillery technology had rendered it defenseless, but still self-identifies as having limited military forces. Although defense is the responsibility of France, two small military units are maintained; one primarily protects the Prince and judiciary, while the other is responsible for civil defense and fire fighting. Both units are well-trained and equipped with small arms. In addition to the military, an armed national police force is maintained for internal security purposes. [4][64][65][66]
 Panama Abolished its army in 1990, which was confirmed by a unanimous parliamentary vote for constitutional change in 1994. The Panamanian Public Forces include the National Police, National Borders Service, National Aeronaval Service, and Institutional Protection Service, which have some warfare capabilities. [67][68][69]
 Vanuatu The Vanuatu Police Force maintain a paramilitary force, called the Vanuatu Mobile Force for internal security purposes. The Vanuatu Mobile Force is manned by almost 300 men and women, who are well-equipped with small arms. [70][71][72]

See also

Notes
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References

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