In international relations, a permanently neutral state is a country that declares and adheres to a policy of neutrality and does not participate in conflicts and wars between other countries. These countries usually take a series of measures to ensure their security and neutrality. At one of the extremes, a permanently neutral country abandoned its army. This raises the question: how can these countries defend themselves without an army if they are threatened with war?Will there be an invasion?
Let's take Switzerland as an example to solve this problem. Switzerland is a famously permanently neutral country that has not been involved in any wars since 1815. Although Switzerland does not have a regular standing army, they have a system of militia, the Swiss National Army. Swiss citizens undergo military training after reaching a certain age and are required to retain individuals**. This system ensured that Switzerland had a large reserve army, which could be mobilized quickly when needed. In addition, Switzerland has highly developed fortifications, such as mountain fortresses and underground defense lines, that are able to provide effective defense.
Switzerland also uses diplomacy to ensure its own security. Switzerland is an active participant in international organizations, such as the United Nations and the International Red Cross, and has extensive diplomatic relations with other countries. Switzerland maintains a neutral position in international affairs and promotes the peaceful settlement of disputes through dialogue and mediation. This diplomatic effort helped to ensure that Switzerland did not become the target of war and was able to seek international support and help in times of crisis.
Let's look at Costa Rica again. It is a small country in Central America that has declared permanent neutrality since 1948 and has no army. On the contrary, Costa Rica has devoted more resources to education, health care and social welfare in order to improve the quality of life of its citizens. They are peace-loving and believe that through knowledge, they can solve problems better than with their fists. Moreover, it is also believed that the military spends a lot of money, and this money can be saved to develop the economy more powerfully. So after the declaration of neutrality, the army was abolished.
In the early days, there was also a problem, that is, the influx of a large number of drug dealers, and finally had to ask the United States to act as security. In addition, Costa Rica relies on international law, diplomatic relations and multilateral organizations to ensure its security. The country actively participates in international organizations, such as the United Nations, and has signed several international agreements to protect its territory and neutral status. In 1947, the Inter-American Treaty of Mutual Assistance was signed, and in the event of war and invasion, 21 Latin American countries would provide military assistance.
Moreover, Costa Rica also has a stable political system, which also contributes to the stability and security of the country. While the situation in Switzerland and Costa Rica is not exactly the same, they both demonstrate ways for neutral countries to keep themselves safe without an army. These countries ensure their security through the system of militias, fortifications, diplomatic efforts and international cooperation. In addition, they focus on developing domestic economic and social well-being and improving the living standards of the population, thereby increasing the stability of the country.
Of course, abandoning the army does not mean that there are no risks. Neutral countries can still face a variety of threats, including espionage, terrorism, and non-military conflicts. However, by adopting comprehensive security measures, neutral states can minimize these risks and rely on international law and diplomacy to resolve disputes. So, the abandonment of armies by permanently neutral nations does not mean that they will be invaded.