| Basic data
| Rationale
| Form of neutrality
| Membership
| Possible development
| Participation in international operations (status: mid-2004)
| Neutral States |
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| Neutral since 1516, recognised under international law since 1815;
| foreign policy instrument of a small state; national cohesion.
| Self-determined permanent and armed neutrality.
| EFTA, participation in PfP, OSCE, UN, Council of Europe.
| Switzerland does not seek NATO membership.
| Some 250 persons (including Kosovo, North and South Korea, Afghanistan, Georgia, Middle East).
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| Neutral since 1938;
| To re-affirm independce from it former colonial master, the UK.
| Self-determined neutrality also serves to maintain maximum scope of action.
| European Union (EU), participation in PfP, OSCE, UN, Council of Europe.
| NATO membership debated in 2023
| Some 800 persons (including Liberia, Kosovo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Middle East, Afghanistan).
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| Neutral since 1955;
| State Treaty.
| Neutrality according to the Swiss model. Understood as non-aligned since 2001.
| European Union (EU), participation in PfP, OSCE, UN, Council of Europe.
| NATO membership is conceivable in the medium term.
| Some 1,000 persons (including Kosovo, Middle East, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cyprus).
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| Neutral since 1991
| Constitution
| geo-political situation, buffer state between Russia and NATO.
| European Union (EU) application, participation in PfP, OSCE, UN, Council of Europe.
| NATO membership debated in 2023
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Formerly Neutral States |
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| Neutral from 1831 through 1945, recognised under multiple treaties;
| buffer state between France and Germany
| Self-determined permanent and armed neutrality.
| EU, PfP, OSCE, UN, Council of Europe, etc.
| founding members of NATO in 1949
| none
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| Neutral from 1855 to 2023
| negative experience with former Swedish power politics.
| Sweden sees itself as non-aligned.
| European Union (EU), participation in PfP, OSCE, UN, Council of Europe.
| Applied for NATO membership in 2023, blocked by Turkiye.
| Some 1,000 persons (including Kosovo, Congo, Middle East, Afghanistan, Eritrea/Ethiopia).
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| Neutral from 1955 to 2023
| geo-political situation.
| Since 1995, Finland regards itself as non-aligned. It places great value on its autonomous defensive capability.
| European Union (EU), participation in PfP, OSCE, UN, Council of Europe.
| Joined NATO in 2023
| Some 1,000 persons (including Kosovo, Eritrea/Ethiopia, Afghanistan, Middle East).
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| Neutral from 1991 to 2014
| geo-political situation, buffer state between Russia and NATO.
| Neutrality in 1991 constitution.
| European Union (EU), participation in PfP, OSCE, UN, Council of Europe.
| NATO membership is conceivable in the medium term.
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