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Many nations rely on military power, yet some countries have chosen not to maintain any army. Here's a look at 10 countries with no standing armed forces.
These countries either rely on allies for defence or maintain minimal security forces, like police or coast guards, to ensure internal peace.
This tiny nation in the western Pacific Ocean, famous among tourists for scuba diving, has a population of less than 25,000. The US handles its defence needs whenever required.
Samoa has never built an army. For defense, it relies on New Zealand for its defence under a 1962 treaty of friendship and cooperation.
Known for its beaches, this country in the Caribbean has no standing army. Its security is managed by a special police unit and the coast guard.
The country with a population of about 6 lakh has not had an army since 1946. It relies entirely on its police force for maintaining peace and order.
Australia and New Zealand have taken charge of Kiribati, which faces its biggest threat from natural disasters caused by climate change, not from any country.
This sparsely populated island is situated in such a place in the Pacific Ocean that it does not face any threat from any country.
There has been no army in this Caribbean nation for decades. Its police force and the coast guard handle any security needs.
This small European country hasn't seen war in centuries. It has defence agreements with Spain and France for any defence needs in the future.
Home to the Pope, Vatican City depends on Italy for military protection. The Swiss Guard handles its internal security.
In 1948, Costa Rica became the first country in the world to abolished its army, to focus on the well-being of its people instead of building its military.
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