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As said by famous French statesman George Clemenceau,
“War is much too serious a matter to be entrusted to the military,” and
even today, his statement still stands true. While most countries have
large military forces that are able to deploy and protect at any given
time (the largest and most notable being China, at about 1,600,000 army
personnel), some countries have no military at all.
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Haiti - Disbanded on June, 1995, but rebels have demanded its
re-establishment. The National Police maintains some military units.
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Dominica - No standing army since 1981, after the army attempted a coup.
defense is the responsibility of the Regional Security System.
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Costa Rica - The constitution forbids a standing military in times of
peace since 1949. Seat of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. Seat
of the United Nations University of Peace.
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Barbados - Maintains a Barbados Defence Force for internal affairs –
largely a pacifist country.
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Andorra - Defense of the country is the responsibility of France or
Spain. Similar treaties with both, June 3, 1993.
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Iceland - No standing army since 1859, but is a member of NATO. There is
a defense agreement with the U.S., which maintained a military base in
the country from 1951 until September 2006. Iceland maintains
expeditionary peacekeeping forces, Coast Guard, Police as well as a
Special Police unit.
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Kiribati - The only forces permitted are the police and the coast guard.
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Liechtenstein - Abolished their army in 1868 because it was too costly.
Army does not exist in times of peace.
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Marshall Islands - Defense is the responsibility of the United States.
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Mauritius - Has had a paramilitary police force since 1968. |