Saint Kitts and Nevis
Power Ranking 2025
MPR Rank: 189th
MPR SCORE: 130
MPR Index: 0.0094 (1.0000 is perfect)
Reverse MPR Index: 0.9387 (0.0000 is perfect)
Z Score: -0.843 (standard deviations above the mean)
Overview
Saint Kitts and Nevis ranks 128th in the 2025 Military Power Rankings. As a small two-island federation in the Caribbean, the country does not operate a formal standing military. Instead, national defense responsibilities are carried out by the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force, including a Coast Guard Division and a small Special Services Unit (SSU). The country’s defense strategy emphasizes internal policing, maritime security, and regional cooperation, especially through its membership in the Regional Security System (RSS)—a multilateral alliance that offers rapid response, disaster relief, and joint security capabilities across the Eastern Caribbean. This framework allows Saint Kitts and Nevis to maintain sovereignty and stability without maintaining independent armed forces.
Strengths
1. Integrated Defense via the Regional Security System (RSS)
Saint Kitts and Nevis benefits from full participation in the RSS, which provides joint operational support, military-trained personnel, and coordinated defense mechanisms during crises or national emergencies.
2. Organized Internal Security Architecture
The Royal Police Force, SSU, and Coast Guard Division are well-structured and trained to handle public security, counter-narcotics operations, and civil unrest, with added support from regional and international partners.
3. Maritime Protection of Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)
The Coast Guard actively patrols the nation’s EEZ, contributing to fisheries enforcement, anti-smuggling operations, and search-and-rescue missions, particularly in collaboration with RSS maritime assets and the U.S. Coast Guard.
4. Strong Bilateral and Multilateral Partnerships
Saint Kitts and Nevis maintains close security relationships with the United States, Barbados, and regional institutions, ensuring force interoperability, training access, and strategic protection in case of external threats.
Why Saint Kitts and Nevis Is Still Ranked 128th
No Conventional Military Force: The country has no army, navy, or air force, and relies entirely on civilian police and coast guard units, limiting its defense autonomy.
Limited Combat Capabilities: Internal forces lack heavy equipment, air defense, or mechanized units, and are not structured for large-scale defensive warfare or external deployments.
Dependency on External Defense Guarantees: Any credible defense against external threats would require intervention by RSS allies or U.S. military assets, reinforcing the absence of self-reliant deterrence.
Low Budget and Personnel Scale: The small population and narrow fiscal base limit the country’s ability to expand its defense capabilities beyond internal policing and maritime enforcement.
Conclusion
Saint Kitts and Nevis ranks 128th globally due to its lack of a traditional military, small force size, and complete reliance on external partnerships for national defense. However, the country sustains a functional internal security system, supported by regional cooperation through the RSS, and reinforced by maritime enforcement capacity and disaster readiness infrastructure. Its approach to defense is defined by strategic integration, law enforcement professionalism, and regional solidarity, making it one of the more stable and well-connected small states in the Caribbean despite its limited combat assets.
Strengths
1. Integrated Defense via the Regional Security System (RSS)
Saint Kitts and Nevis benefits from full participation in the RSS, which provides joint operational support, military-trained personnel, and coordinated defense mechanisms during crises or national emergencies.
2. Organized Internal Security Architecture
The Royal Police Force, SSU, and Coast Guard Division are well-structured and trained to handle public security, counter-narcotics operations, and civil unrest, with added support from regional and international partners.
3. Maritime Protection of Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)
The Coast Guard actively patrols the nation’s EEZ, contributing to fisheries enforcement, anti-smuggling operations, and search-and-rescue missions, particularly in collaboration with RSS maritime assets and the U.S. Coast Guard.
4. Strong Bilateral and Multilateral Partnerships
Saint Kitts and Nevis maintains close security relationships with the United States, Barbados, and regional institutions, ensuring force interoperability, training access, and strategic protection in case of external threats.
Why Saint Kitts and Nevis Is Still Ranked 189th
No Conventional Military Force: The country has no army, navy, or air force, and relies entirely on civilian police and coast guard units, limiting its defense autonomy.
Limited Combat Capabilities: Internal forces lack heavy equipment, air defense, or mechanized units, and are not structured for large-scale defensive warfare or external deployments.
Dependency on External Defense Guarantees: Any credible defense against external threats would require intervention by RSS allies or U.S. military assets, reinforcing the absence of self-reliant deterrence.
Low Budget and Personnel Scale: The small population and narrow fiscal base limit the country’s ability to expand its defense capabilities beyond internal policing and maritime enforcement.
Conclusion
Saint Kitts and Nevis ranks 128th globally due to its lack of a traditional military, small force size, and complete reliance on external partnerships for national defense. However, the country sustains a functional internal security system, supported by regional cooperation through the RSS, and reinforced by maritime enforcement capacity and disaster readiness infrastructure. Its approach to defense is defined by strategic integration, law enforcement professionalism, and regional solidarity, making it one of the more stable and well-connected small states in the Caribbean despite its limited combat assets.
Military Strength and Force Projection
Active Military Personnel: None (security provided by police forces)
Reserve Personnel: None
Paramilitary Forces: 400 (Police Force and Coast Guard)
Army Personnel: None
Navy Personnel (Coast Guard): 100
Air Force Personnel: None
Ground Forces
Saint Kitts and Nevis does not have traditional military ground forces. The country relies on its police force and the RSS for security and peacekeeping support.
Main Battle Tanks (MBTs): None
Armored Fighting Vehicles (AFVs): None
Artillery (Towed and Self-Propelled): None
Air Wing
Saint Kitts and Nevis does not have an air force, with air security provided by regional partners through the RSS.
Naval Forces (Coast Guard)
Saint Kitts and Nevis operates a small coast guard to patrol its waters and ensure maritime security. Its primary role includes anti-narcotics operations, search and rescue missions, and protecting the country’s EEZ.
Patrol Boats: 2
Missile Capabilities
Saint Kitts and Nevis does not possess missile systems or nuclear capabilities. The country’s defense focus remains on maritime security and law enforcement operations within its territorial waters.
Strategic Partnerships
Saint Kitts and Nevis is a member of the Regional Security System (RSS), a defense and security alliance of Caribbean states that provides mutual support for disaster response, organized crime fighting, and peacekeeping operations. The country also cooperates with international partners, including the United States and the United Kingdom, for law enforcement and anti-narcotics assistance.
Military History & Combat Experience
Saint Kitts and Nevis has not participated in any conventional wars, and its security framework is rooted in law enforcement, regional deployments, and internal stabilization operations. The country’s operational experience is shaped through RSS engagements, maritime policing, and natural disaster response, with a focus on safeguarding its internal order and regional obligations.
RSS Regional Security Deployments (1990s–Present)
As a core member of the Regional Security System, Saint Kitts and Nevis has contributed SSU personnel to joint peacekeeping and stabilization missions in fellow Caribbean states, including operations in Grenada, Saint Vincent, and Dominica. These deployments involve crowd control, riot response, and armed policing, offering tactical field experience under multinational command.Internal Operations Against Organized Crime
The government has deployed its Special Services Unit and coast guard elements to counter the growing influence of organized criminal networks, particularly in urban areas and along smuggling corridors. These high-risk operations provide regular domestic tactical exposure, especially in gang suppression and firearms interdiction.Maritime Security and Anti-Narcotics Patrols
The Coast Guard Division regularly cooperates with the U.S. Southern Command, RSS naval patrols, and British security forces to conduct drug interdictions and EEZ monitoring. These missions involve real-time intercepts, boarding procedures, and joint maritime exercises, though within a law enforcement rather than military framework.Disaster Relief and Civil Resilience Operations
The country’s geography exposes it to hurricanes and tropical storms, such as Hurricane Irma (2017). The Royal Police Force and supporting agencies routinely mobilize to provide logistical support, evacuation services, and public safety management, reinforcing their value as multi-role civil defenders.
Saint Kitts and Nevis does not maintain armed forces and has no wartime history, but it has operational exposure through its regional security contributions, domestic enforcement operations, and disaster management deployments. These roles shape a defense identity focused on stability, responsiveness, and cooperative security, rather than combat power or independent deterrence.
General Information
Demographics and Geography
Population: ~54,000 (2024 est.)
Population Available for Military Service: ~25,000
Geographic Area: 261 km²
Land Boundaries: 0 km
Bordering Countries: None (island nation)
Coastline: 135 km
Climate: Tropical; tempered by constant sea breezes; little seasonal variation
Terrain: Volcanic with mountainous interiors and coastal lowlands
Natural Resources: Arable land, fish, scenic beauty (tourism-driven)
Proven Oil Reserves: None
Proven Natural Gas Reserves: None
Economic Indicators
Defense Budget (2025): ~$18 million USD
Defense Budget as % of GDP: ~1.1%
GDP (PPP): ~$1.2 billion USD
GDP per Capita (PPP): ~$22,000
External Debt: ~$700 million USD
Military Expenditure Trend (last 5 years): Stable, with slight increases for policing and coast guard capabilities
Military Infrastructure and Readiness
Military Service Obligation: Voluntary
Primary Defense Focus: Internal policing, maritime enforcement, disaster relief
Military Industry Base: None
Cyber/Electronic Warfare Capability: Minimal
Nuclear Warhead Inventory: None (non-nuclear state)
Major Military Districts / Commands: Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force (RSCNPF) includes Special Services Unit and Coast Guard
Missile Inventory Highlights: None; light arms and naval patrol weapons only
Reservist Call-up Readiness / Timeline: Moderate; ~30–60 days
Reservist Force Size: ~600
Space, Intelligence, and Strategic Infrastructure
Space or Satellite Programs: None
Military Satellite Inventory: None
Intelligence Infrastructure: National Intelligence Unit under Ministry of National Security
Intelligence Sharing Partnerships: United States, United Kingdom, CARICOM, RSS
Airports (Total): 2
Major Military Airports: Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport (dual-use capability)
Naval Power and Maritime Logistics
Merchant Marine Fleet: Small
Major Ports: Basseterre, Charlestown
Naval Infrastructure: Coast Guard operates patrol boats for EEZ and border enforcement
Naval Replenishment Capability: Basic coastal support only
Domestic Mobility and Infrastructure
Railway Network: ~50 km (heritage tourism use)
Roadways: ~320 km
Energy and Fuel Logistics
Oil Production: None
Energy Imports: Fully dependent on imported petroleum products
Strategic Petroleum Reserves: Minimal
Defense Production and Strategic Forces
Domestic Defense Production: None
Military Installations (Domestic): Basseterre, Bird Rock
Military Installations (Overseas): None
Foreign Military Personnel Presence: Occasional training assistance from U.S., U.K., and regional partners
Defense Alliances: Regional Security System (RSS), CARICOM security cooperation
Strategic Airlift Capability: None
Wartime Industrial Surge Capacity: Extremely low
Research and Industry Support
Defense R&D Investment: None
Key Wartime Industries Beyond Defense: Tourism logistics, fisheries, inter-island shipping
Political and Administrative Structure
Capital: Basseterre
Founding Date: September 19, 1983 (independence from the UK)
System of Government: Federal parliamentary democracy under constitutional monarchy
