Armed neutrality

Updated on Dec 28, 2023

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Armed neutrality, in international politics, is the posture of a state or group of states that has no alliance with either side in a war, but asserts that it will defend itself against resulting incursions from any party. This may include:

Military preparedness without commitment, especially as the expressed policy of a neutral nation in wartime; readiness to counter with force an invasion of rights by any belligerent power.

Armed neutrality is a term used in international politics, which is the attitude of a state or group of states which makes no alliance with either side in a war. It is the condition of a neutral power, during said war, to hold itself ready to resist by force, any aggression of either belligerent. Such states assert that they will defend themselves against resulting incursions from all parties.

Neutrality maintained while weapons are kept available.

Armed neutrality makes a seemingly-neutral state take up arms for protection to maintain its neutrality.

Leagues of Armed Neutrality

The phrase "armed neutrality" sometimes refers specifically to one of the 'Leagues of Armed Neutrality'.

The First League of Armed Neutrality was an alliance of minor naval powers organized in 1780 by Catherine II of Russia to protect neutral shipping in the War of American Independence. The establishment of the First League of Armed Neutrality was viewed by Americans as a mark of Russian friendship and sympathy. This league had a lasting impact of Russian-American relations, and the relations of those two powers and Britain. It was also the basis for international maritime law, which is still in effect. In the field of political science, this is our first historical example of armed neutrality, however, scholars like Dr. Carl Kulsrud argue that the concept of armed neutrality was introduced even earlier. Within 90 years before the First League of Armed Neutrality was established, neutral powers had joined forces no less than three times. As early as 1613, Lubeck and Holland joined powers to continue their maritime exploration without the commitment of being involved in wartime struggles on the sea.

The Second League of Armed Neutrality was an effort to revive this during the French Revolutionary Wars. It was an alliance with Denmark-Norway, Prussia, Sweden and Russia. It occurred during 1800 and 1801. The idea of this second league was to protect neutral shipping from the Royal Navy. However, Britain took this as the alliance taking up sides with France, thus attacking Denmark. The alliance was forced to withdraw from the league.

A potential Third League of Armed Neutrality was discussed during the American Civil War, but was never realised.

Sweden and Switzerland

Sweden and Switzerland are, independent of each other, famed for their armed neutrality, which they maintained throughout both World War I and World War II. The Swiss Confederation has a long history of neutrality: it has not been in a state of war internationally since 1815 and did not join the United Nations until 2002. It pursues, however, an active foreign policy and is frequently involved in peace-building processes around the world.

United States

The United States had proclaimed a position of armed neutrality from the beginning of World War I, in the summer of 1914. This became an increasingly unpopular stance, especially after the German forces sank the British passenger ship RMS Lusitania in May 1915, which killed 1,201 people, including 128 Americans. In early 1917, German forces took the conflict to new levels by engaging in unrestricted naval warfare. This resulted in the sinking of the American cargo ship, the Housatonic. Wilson broke off diplomatic ties with Germany that same day. The final straw is said to have happened on April 1, 1917 when German naval forces torpedoed the U.S. steamer Aztec. Twenty Eight of its crew members drowned. American forces maintained neutrality during World War I until President Woodrow Wilson's War Message on April 2, 1917. Wilson delivered his historic war message before Congress.

Spain

Spain also maintained neutrality throughout both World War I and World War II. While Spain did lean slightly towards the Axis, as evidenced by the Blue Division, it did not join World War II.

Ireland

During World War II, it was believed that Ireland would take the German side if the United Kingdom attempted to invade the State, but would take the United Kingdom's side if invaded by Germany; historically, it is now known that both sides had in fact drawn up plans to invade Ireland (Operation Green and Plan W) (see also Irish neutrality). Ireland was outwardly neutral during the conflict, but it made some concessions to the Allies by sharing intelligence and weather reports as well as by repatriating downed RAF airmen.

References

Armed neutrality Wikipedia

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