Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Military Power Ranking 2025

MPR Rank: 190th
MPR SCORE: 129
MPR Index: 0.0092 (1.0000 is perfect)
Reverse MPR Index: 0.9390 (0.0000 is perfect)
Z Score: -0.845 (standard deviations above the mean)

Overview

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines ranks 131st in the 2025 Military Power Rankings. Like many Eastern Caribbean nations, it does not maintain a standing military force. Instead, national defense and internal security are the responsibility of the Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF), which includes a Coast Guard Division and Special Services Unit (SSU). The country’s security doctrine focuses on law enforcement, maritime sovereignty, and multilateral cooperation, particularly with the Regional Security System (RSS) and foreign partners such as the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. This model supports a non-militarized, integrated security posture oriented around policing, disaster resilience, and regional solidarity.

Strengths

1. Strategic Access to Regional Defense Resources

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is an active member of the RSS, giving it access to rapid-deployment units, military-trained personnel, and regional intelligence sharing across allied Caribbean states.

2. Competent Internal Security Institutions

The RSVGPF, supported by the SSU and Coast Guard, provides robust internal law enforcement, riot control, and maritime enforcement, especially in Kingstown and offshore patrol zones.

3. Maritime Surveillance and Drug Interdiction Capacity

With direct exposure to regional smuggling routes, the Coast Guard engages in counter-narcotics operations, often in collaboration with RSS patrols and the U.S. Coast Guard, enhancing real-world enforcement capability.

4. Civil Stability and International Partnerships

Strong partnerships with regional and Western allies contribute to training, logistics, and equipment support, making Saint Vincent’s security sector well-integrated and operationally relevant despite lacking a military.

Why Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Is Still Ranked 190th

No Traditional Military Structure: The country operates without an army, navy, or air force, leaving it reliant on police-led forces for all security functions, including external threat mitigation.
Lack of Strategic Deterrence Capabilities: Without long-range weapons systems, air defense, or combat units, the country cannot deter or respond independently to any state-level military threat.
Dependency on External Support: Any scenario requiring national defense beyond law enforcement would necessitate intervention from RSS allies, the U.S. Southern Command, or Commonwealth defense partners.
Low Force Size and Equipment Limitations: With limited personnel and budget, the security force is tailored for civil protection, not combat readiness, leaving it vulnerable to large-scale disruptions or external coercion.

Conclusion

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines ranks 131st due to its demilitarized security model, reliance on regional defense networks, and internal focus on law enforcement and maritime control. The RSVGPF, Special Services Unit, and Coast Guard Division are capable within their operational domains, and the country plays a functional role in regional disaster preparedness, drug interdiction, and stability operations. However, in the absence of a standing military or independent deterrent power, it remains strategically dependent and unable to project force or withstand external conflict autonomously.

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 Vincent and the Grenadines does not have traditional military ground forces. The police force provides internal security and disaster response capabilities.

Main Battle Tanks (MBTs): None
Armored Fighting Vehicles (AFVs): None
Artillery (Towed and Self-Propelled): None

Air Wing

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines does not maintain an air force. Air security is supported through regional cooperation.

Naval Forces (Coast Guard)

The country operates a small coast guard focused on patrolling territorial waters, counter-narcotics operations, and search and rescue missions.

Patrol Boats: 2

Missile Capabilities

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines does not possess missile systems or nuclear capabilities. The country’s defense and security focus remain on maritime patrols and law enforcement.

Strategic Partnerships

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is a member of the Regional Security System (RSS), a defense alliance of Caribbean nations that provides mutual support for disaster response, peacekeeping, and security. The country also cooperates with international partners, including the United States, for anti-narcotics operations and maritime security.

Military History & Combat Experience

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has no history of participating in armed conflicts or wars, and its national security posture is centered on policing, disaster relief, and regional cooperation. However, its forces have gained real-world operational exposure through multinational deployments, coastal interdictions, and domestic crisis response operations.

RSS Regional Deployments and Crisis Support (2000s–Present)
Personnel from Saint Vincent’s SSU and police force have been deployed under the Regional Security System (RSS) to assist with civil unrest and election-related tensions in nearby countries, including missions in Dominica, Saint Kitts, and Grenada. These operations provided practical experience in riot control, crowd management, and interoperability with foreign forces.
La Soufrière Volcano Emergency Response (2021)
During the eruption of La Soufrière, local forces were mobilized for mass evacuation, logistical support, and public safety enforcement. The SSU and Coast Guard were instrumental in coordinating emergency shelters, securing hazardous zones, and facilitating humanitarian aid distribution in one of the country’s largest domestic mobilizations.
Counter-Narcotics Maritime Interdiction Operations
The Coast Guard Division has been engaged in drug smuggling interdictions, intercepting vessels in Saint Vincent’s waters with support from U.S. Joint Interagency Task Force South and UK maritime partners. These real-world operations involve live vessel boarding, weapons seizures, and evidence handling under international legal protocols.
Urban and Rural Anti-Crime Operations
The SSU has conducted multiple anti-gang raids and weapons seizures in areas such as Kingstown and Layou, providing operational familiarity with high-risk enforcement, tactical movement, and close-quarters containment, albeit within a law enforcement context.

Though Saint Vincent and the Grenadines lacks a military and has never engaged in warfare, its security forces have accumulated experience in regional deployments, natural disaster management, and law enforcement under stress, forming a reliable if limited capacity for internal defense and humanitarian crisis management. Its strategic value remains tied to interoperability, diplomacy, and regional solidarity, rather than independent military power.

General Information

Demographics and Geography

Population: ~103,000 (2024 est.)
Population Available for Military Service: ~45,000
Geographic Area: 389 km²
Land Boundaries: 0 km
Bordering Countries: None (island nation)
Coastline: 84 km
Climate: Tropical; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)
Terrain: Volcanic, mountainous with narrow coastal plains
Natural Resources: Timber, hydropower, fertile soil, fish
Proven Oil Reserves: None
Proven Natural Gas Reserves: None

Economic Indicators

Defense Budget (2025): ~$22 million USD
Defense Budget as % of GDP: ~1.2%
GDP (PPP): ~$1.6 billion USD
GDP per Capita (PPP): ~$15,500
External Debt: ~$800 million USD
Military Expenditure Trend (last 5 years): Stable with gradual improvements in maritime surveillance and disaster preparedness

Military Infrastructure and Readiness

Military Service Obligation: Voluntary
Primary Defense Focus: Maritime security, disaster relief, internal law enforcement
Military Industry Base: None
Cyber/Electronic Warfare Capability: Minimal
Nuclear Warhead Inventory: None (non-nuclear state)
Major Military Districts / Commands: Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force includes Special Services Unit and Coast Guard
Missile Inventory Highlights: None; small arms and coastal patrol systems only
Reservist Call-up Readiness / Timeline: Moderate; ~30–60 days
Reservist Force Size: ~800

Space, Intelligence, and Strategic Infrastructure

Space or Satellite Programs: None
Military Satellite Inventory: None
Intelligence Infrastructure: National Security and Intelligence Unit under Ministry of National Security
Intelligence Sharing Partnerships: United States, CARICOM, RSS
Airports (Total): 5
Major Military Airports: Argyle International Airport (dual-use in emergencies)

Naval Power and Maritime Logistics

Merchant Marine Fleet: Small
Major Ports: Kingstown
Naval Infrastructure: Coast Guard base in Calliaqua with patrol vessels
Naval Replenishment Capability: Basic coastal refueling and docking

Domestic Mobility and Infrastructure

Railway Network: None
Roadways: ~830 km

Energy and Fuel Logistics

Oil Production: None
Energy Imports: Fully dependent on imported refined fuels
Strategic Petroleum Reserves: Very limited

Defense Production and Strategic Forces

Domestic Defense Production: None
Military Installations (Domestic): Kingstown, Calliaqua
Military Installations (Overseas): None
Foreign Military Personnel Presence: Periodic regional support from RSS and U.S. Navy visits
Defense Alliances: Regional Security System (RSS), CARICOM security framework
Strategic Airlift Capability: None
Wartime Industrial Surge Capacity: Extremely low