Military > Absence of military (notes): Countries Compared

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COUNTRY	DESCRIPTION
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 .
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 .
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 .
Holy See (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.
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, Liechtenstein 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 .
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 .

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