Andorra: A Country Without an Army or Its Own PresidentAndorra, a small country nestled in the Pyrenees Mountains between France and Spain, has a unique status when it comes to its military and leadership structure. In terms of defense, Andorra does not possess a standing army or any armed forces. Instead, its military defense is based on treaties it has signed with its neighboring countries, Spain and France. One such treaty is the 1993 Treaty of Good Neighborliness, Friendship, and Cooperation. There is only a minuscule volunteer army in Andorra, but its role is strictly ceremonial.

May 16, 2025, 10:59 am EDT

Andorra: A Country Without an Army or Its Own President

Andorra, a small country nestled in the Pyrenees Mountains between France and Spain, has a unique status when it comes to its military and leadership structure. In terms of defense, Andorra does not possess a standing army or any armed forces. Instead, its military defense is based on treaties it has signed with its neighboring countries, Spain and France. One such treaty is the 1993 Treaty of Good Neighborliness, Friendship, and Cooperation. There is only a minuscule volunteer army in Andorra, but its role is strictly ceremonial.

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Historically, Andorra did have a small army at certain points in the past, but it has not been reconstituted in modern times. The fundamental principle of Andorran defense is that all able - bodied men are obligated to fight if summoned by the "sometent." As a landlocked nation, Andorra also lacks a navy. Today, a small ceremonial unit of just twelve men remains the only permanent part of the sometent. Technically, all fit men are still eligible for military service, with the requirement that each household has access to a firearm, though rifles and handguns need a license.

Another interesting aspect is its leadership. Andorra is a constitutional diarchy. Its co - princes, who are its heads of state, are the President of France (currently Emmanuel Macron) and the Bishop of Urgell (based in the neighboring Spanish town of Seu d'Urgell, currently Joan Enric Vives i Sicília). So, Andorra does not have a traditional president as seen in many other countries. This unique setup, both in terms of its military non - existence and its leadership structure, makes Andorra stand out among the world's nations.