Countries Without Armed 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. | |
| Costa Rica | The constitution has forbidden a standing military since 1949. It does have a public security force, whose role includes law enforcement and internal security. For this reason Costa Rica is the headquarters for the Inter-American Court of Human Rights and also the United Nations' University for Peace. | |
| Grenada | Has not had a standing army since 1983 because of an American-led invasion. The Royal Grenada Police Force maintains a paramilitary special service unit for internal security purposes. Defense is the responsibility of the Regional Security System. | |
| 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. Defense assistance is provided by Australia and New Zealand under an informal agreement between the three countries. | |
| Liechtenstein | Abolished its army in 1868 because it was deemed too costly. An army is only permitted in times of war, but that situation has never occurred. However, country maintains a police force and a SWAT team, equipped with small arms to carry out internal security duties. | |
| 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. | |
| 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 one Pacific class patrol boat, the Independence. Defense is the responsibility of the United States under the Compact of Free Association. | |
| Nauru | Australia is responsible for Nauru's defense 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. | |
| Palau | Since the country's foundation the only forces permitted are the police, which includes a 30-man Maritime Surveillance Unit for internal security. The Maritime Surveillance is equipped with small arms, and maintains one Pacific class patrol boat, the President H.I. Remeliik. Defense assistance is provided by the United States under the Compact of Free Association. | |
| Saint Lucia | The Royal Saint Lucia Police maintain two small paramilitary forces consisting of 116 men and women, the Special Service Unit, and the Coast Guard, both units are responsible for internal security. Defense is the responsibility of Regional Security System. | |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | The Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force maintain two small paramilitary forces consisting of 94 men and women, called the Special Service Unit, and the Coast Guard, both units are responsible for internal security purposes. All Coastguard Commanders with the exception of Lieutenant Commander David Robin have been officers from the Royal Navy. Defense is the responsibility of Regional Security System. | |
| 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 defense. | |
| 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. Defense and policing assistance is the responsibility of the RAMSI. | |
| 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. | |
| Vatican City | Maintains a Gendarmerie Corps for internal policing. The 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, but informally the Italian military protects Vatican City. The Palatine Guard and Noble Guard were abolished in 1970. |
| Country | Comments | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Haiti | The Haitian military was disbanded in June 1995, but rebels have demanded its re-establishment. The 9,000-strong Haitian National Police maintains some paramilitary units and a Coast Guard; these units are considered to be larger than what is required, considering the much smaller militaries of some neighboring countries. In April 2012, Haitian President Michel Martelly demanded the r-eestablishment of the Army, because of what he deems necessary for the stability of Haiti. | |
| 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. However, the US announced it would continue to provide for Iceland's defense, but without permanently basing forces in the country; Naval Air Station Keflavik closed in late 2006 after 55 years. Even though Iceland does not have a standing army, it still maintains a military expeditionary peacekeeping force, an air defense system, an extensive militarised coast guard, a police service, and a tactical police force. There are also agreements about military and other security operations with Norway, Denmark, and other NATO countries. | |
| 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. | |
| 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. | |
| Panama | Abolished its army in 1990, which was confirmed by a unanimous parliamentary vote for constitutional change in 1994. The Panamanian Public Forces, includes the National Police, National Borders Service, National Aeronaval Service, and Institutional Protection Service, which have some warfare capabilities. | |
| 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. |
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