World’s only country which has no army of its own, it is protected by…, it is located in…, name is…

Today, most countries think that having a strong military is very important. A country’s strength is often measured by how modern and powerful its army and weapons are. Many nations try to stay ahead of another by having better fighter jets and stronger defense systems. But surprisingly, even now, there is a country that has decided not to keep a regular army. If you’re wondering which country has taken this rare path, here’s one that doesn’t have a standing army.

Iceland, a country with no standing army

A long time ago, in 1869, Iceland made a bold decision and it chose to not have a standing army. Even though most countries built up their military forces, Iceland decided to take a different path. But that doesn’t mean the country is completely without protection.

Iceland is still a member of NATO, the international group where countries agree to protect each other. To help with peacekeeping missions around the world, Iceland has a special team called the Crisis Response Unit. This group isn’t a full army, but they help in important missions when needed.

Back in 1951, Iceland signed a defense agreement with the United States, due to which the US had set up a military base in Iceland and created what was called the Iceland Defense Force. For over 50 years, the base helped protect the country. Then in 2006, the base was closed, but the U.S. promised to keep defending Iceland, just without keeping soldiers there all the time.

Iceland also works closely with its NATO friends like Norway, Denmark, and other allies. Together, they help with military and security matters.

Iceland wants to contribute more to NATO

Iceland is now working on a new plan for its security and defense, according to the country’s Prime Minister, Kristrún Frostadóttir. She also shared that Iceland will be spending more money on defense in the coming years. This update came after her recent meeting in Brussels with NATO’s Secretary General, Mark Rutte.

Even though Iceland doesn’t have its own army, NATO still sees the country as an important member and the Secretary General praised Iceland for the big role it plays in helping the alliance. The country runs air defense and radar systems. It also provides space, support, and facilities for NATO aircraft and missions. On top of that, Iceland regularly hosts large training events, like NATO’s top anti-submarine drill called “Dynamic Mongoose.”

News