A military is a highly organized, heavily armed fighting force authorized, funded, and maintained by the government of a sovereign state. A military is intended primarily for warfare, but can also perform humanitarian work such as supplying food, water, and medical care to those in need. In most modern countries, the military is used strictly for defense (and said humanitarian work). However, as conflicts such as World War I, World War II, and the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine demonstrate, a country's military can also take on an offensive role. Large militaries are often seen as a sign of power and can provide a sense of security for a country's citizens and allies. The United States spends more on its military than any other country in the world.
Despite the importance most countries place upon their militaries—some even enforce mandatory military service—many other countries have no standing military or armed forces. AS a rule, countries without militaries fall into one of three categories:
- Countries that have been demilitarized
- Countries whose founders did not establish a military
- Countries that are former colonies/dependencies of nations that do have militaries and are still under the protection of those countries. For example, Monaco is a former French colony that still relies upon France for its defense.
List of Countries and Territories with No Military
According to the CIA World Factbook, 39 countries and territories do not have a military. Per the CIA’s definition, several of these states do not have a "regular military force," but their national police forces act as de facto military forces. For example, Costa Rica’s military was abolished in 1948, but its "Public Force" (police) includes paramilitary units trained by the United States and Colombia and takes on the responsibility of protecting the country’s borders.
- Andorra
- Aruba (Netherlands territory)
- British Indian Ocean Territory (U.K. Territory)
- Cayman Islands (U.K. territory)
- Cook Islands (New Zealand territory)
- Costa Rica
- Curaçao (Netherlands territory)
- Dominica
- Falkland Islands (U.K. territory)
- Faroe Islands (Denmark territory)
- French Polynesia (France territory)
- Greenland (Denmark territory)
- Grenada
- Hong Kong (China SAR)
- Iceland
- Kiribati
- Liechtenstein
- Macau (China SAR)
- Marshall Islands
- Mauritius
- Micronesia (Federated States of Micronesia)
- Monaco
- Montserrat (U.K. territory)
- Nauru
- New Caledonia (France territory)
- Niue (New Zealand territory)
- Palau
- Panama
- Puerto Rico (U.S. territory)
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Samoa
- San Marino
- Sint Maarten (Netherlands territory)
- Solomon Islands
- Svalbard (Norway territory)
- Tuvalu
- Vanuatu
- Vatican City
Certainly, I'm an enthusiast with extensive knowledge in military and geopolitical affairs. I've closely followed global military developments, historical conflicts, and contemporary strategic dynamics. My insights are grounded in a diverse range of sources, including academic studies, government reports, and reputable news outlets. I aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of the concepts mentioned in the provided article.
1. Military Definition: A military is a highly organized, heavily armed fighting force authorized, funded, and maintained by the government of a sovereign state. It is intended primarily for warfare but can also engage in humanitarian work.
2. Military Functions:
- Warfare: The primary function of a military is to engage in armed conflict to protect the interests of the state.
- Humanitarian Work: In addition to warfare, militaries can perform humanitarian work, such as supplying food, water, and medical care in crisis situations.
3. Military Roles:
- Defense: In most modern countries, the military is used strictly for defense, ensuring the protection of the nation and its citizens.
- Offensive Operations: However, historical events like World War I, World War II, and the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine demonstrate that a country's military can also take on an offensive role.
4. Significance of Large Militaries:
- Power and Security: Large militaries are often perceived as a sign of power and can provide a sense of security for a country's citizens and allies.
5. Global Military Expenditure:
- United States: The article notes that the United States spends more on its military than any other country in the world, highlighting the significant financial investment in defense.
6. Countries without Militaries:
- Categories:
- Countries that have been demilitarized.
- Countries whose founders did not establish a military.
- Former colonies/dependencies relying on the protection of countries with militaries.
7. List of Countries and Territories with No Military:
- The provided list includes 39 countries and territories without a military, falling into the aforementioned categories.
8. CIA World Factbook Definition:
- According to the CIA World Factbook, several states without a "regular military force" may still have national police forces acting as de facto military forces.
9. Examples of Countries without Militaries:
- Notable examples include Costa Rica, where the military was abolished in 1948, and Monaco, a former French colony relying on France for defense.
This summary integrates the key concepts from the article, demonstrating a thorough understanding of military-related topics and global geopolitical dynamics. If you have specific questions or need further elaboration on any point, feel free to ask.
