Armed neutrality, in international politics, is the posture of a state or group of states which makes no alliance with either side in a war, but asserts that it will defend itself against resulting incursions from all parties.
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 Second League of Armed Neutrality was an effort to revive this during the French Revolutionary Wars. A potential Third League of Armed Neutrality was discussed during the American Civil War, but was never realised.
Switzerland and Sweden are, independently of each other, famed for their armed neutrality, which they maintained throughout both World War I and World War II. Spain also maintained neutrality throughout both wars, and despite leaning slightly towards the Axis, as evidenced by the Blue Division, did not join World War Two.
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 (see Irish neutrality).
Other articles related to "neutrality, armed neutrality, armed":
... The Neutrality Acts of 1930s were passed. 1937 The Neutrality Acts of 1930s were passed ... A cash and carry policy was proposed to replace the Neutrality Acts ...
... By 1860, Missouri's initial southern settlers had been supplanted with a more diversified non-slave holding population, including many northerners, German and Irish immigrants ... With war seeming inevitable, Missouri thought it could stay out of the conflict by remaining in the Union, but staying neutral—not giving men or supplies to either side and pledging to fight troops from either side who entered the state ...
... Nations Security Council Resolution 1244, Serbian armed forces withdrew from Kosovo ... in the wake of the Kosovo War, which involved Serbian armed forces ...
... This led to an 'armed neutrality' and though it gave mixed signals to the rest of the world as to that neutrality Denmark-Norway continued to insist on the inviolability of ships sailing under neutral flags ... sailing under the Danish flag to gain their neutrality benefits, and though the policy proved profitable in its first year it also drew diplomatic protests from ... When in 1800 it appeared that Russia would head a new League of Armed Neutrality the United Kingdom reacted, in summer that year having a squadron of 130 ...
Famous quotes containing the words neutrality and/or armed:
“My father and I were always on the most distant terms when I was a boy—a sort of armed neutrality, so to speak. At irregular intervals this neutrality was broken, and suffering ensued; but I will be candid enough to say that the breaking and the suffering were always divided up with strict impartiality between us—which is to say, my father did the breaking, and I did the suffering.”
—Mark Twain [Samuel Langhorne Clemens] (1835–1910)
“What man dare, I dare.
Approach thou like the rugged Russian bear,
The armed rhinoceros, or the Hyrcan tiger;
Take any shape but that, and my firm nerves
Shall never tremble. Or be alive again
And dare me to the desert with thy sword.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)