Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 56,777 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
0
Military - note:
defense is provided by the US-manned Icelandic Defense Force (IDF)
headquartered at Keflavik
Transnational Issues Iceland
Disputes - international:
Iceland disputes Denmark's alignment of the Faroe Islands'
fisheries median line; Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute
Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends
beyond 200 nm
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@India
Introduction India
Background:
The Indus Valley civilization, one of the oldest in the world,
dates back at least 5,000 years. Aryan tribes from the northwest
invaded about 1500 B.C.; their merger with the earlier Dravidian
inhabitants created the classical Indian culture. Arab incursions
starting in the 8th century and Turkish in the 12th were followed by
those of European traders, beginning in the late 15th century. By
the 19th century, Britain had assumed political control of virtually
all Indian lands. Indian armed forces in the British army played a
vital role in both World Wars. Nonviolent resistance to British
colonialism led by Mohandas GANDHI and Jawaharlal NEHRU brought
independence in 1947. The subcontinent was divided into the secular
state of India and the smaller Muslim state of Pakistan. A third war
between the two countries in 1971 resulted in East Pakistan becoming
the separate nation of Bangladesh. Despite impressive gains in
economic investment and output, India faces pressing problems such
as the ongoing dispute with Pakistan over Kashmir, massive
overpopulation, environmental degradation, extensive poverty, and
ethnic and religious strife.