What country is not allowed to have a military?

Countries That Don’t Have a Military

While most nations maintain armed forces for defense, a small number have chosen a different path—officially doing away with a standing military. These countries either ban military forces through their constitutions or have made strategic agreements with larger allies for protection.

Take the Marshall Islands, for example. Its constitution explicitly prohibits the establishment of a military, relying instead on the United States for defense under a long-standing agreement tied to the Compact of Free Association. This arrangement gives the U.S. strategic control in the Pacific while ensuring the islands’ security without the burden of maintaining armed forces.

Similarly, Kiribati has no military of its own. Its constitution forbids it, and defense responsibilities fall to regional partners like Australia and New Zealand. These allies provide logistical and emergency support when needed, allowing Kiribati to focus resources on civil development rather than defense spending.

Then there’s Liechtenstein, a tiny European principality that abolished its army back in 1868 after deciding it was no longer necessary. Since then, it has remained proudly neutral and unarmed. In the unlikely event of a security threat, Liechtenstein counts on neighboring Switzerland and Austria for assistance, reflecting its deep regional ties and peaceful foreign policy.

These nations prove that security doesn’t always require tanks or fighter jets. Through diplomacy, mutual agreements, and trust in allies, they maintain sovereignty while rejecting militarization. Their choices reflect a quiet but powerful statement: peace can be a deliberate national policy, not just the absence of war.