Unarmed Yet Secure: 36 Countries Rely on Pacts, Superpowers for Defense

• 36 countries and regions globally operate without their own official armies, relying on alternative security models.
• Their security is ensured through international defense pacts, protection by superpowers, or as dependent territories of larger nations.
• Examples include Vatican City protected by Italy, Bhutan by India, Iceland by NATO, and Gibraltar by the UK.
• Some independent nations like Costa Rica and Panama maintain security through highly trained police or paramilitary forces.
• Despite being unarmed, these nations face potential impacts from global conflicts like the Iran-Israel war, affecting their economy and diplomacy.