the Royal Barbados Defense Force includes a land-based TroopCommand and a small Coast Guard; the primary role of the land
element is to defend the island against external aggression; the
Command consists of a single, part-time battalion with a small
regular cadre that is deployed throughout the island; it
increasingly supports the police in patrolling the coastline to
prevent smuggling and other illicit activities (2005)
Transnational Issues Barbados
Disputes - international:
in 2005, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago agreed to compulsory
international arbitration that will result in a binding award
challenging whether the northern limit of Trinidad and Tobago's and
Venezuela's maritime boundary extends into Barbadian waters and the
southern limit of Barbadian traditional fishing; joins other
Caribbean states to counter Venezuela's claim that Aves Island
sustains human habitation, a criterion under UNCLOS, which permits
Venezuela to extend its EEZ/continental shelf over a large portion
of the Caribbean Sea
Illicit drugs:
one of many Caribbean transshipment points for narcotics bound for
Europe and the US; offshore financial center
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Bassas da India
Introduction Bassas da India
Background:
This atoll is a volcanic rock surrounded by reefs and is awash at
high tide. A French possession since 1897, it was placed under the
administration of a commissioner residing in Reunion in 1968.
Geography Bassas da India
Location:
Southern Africa, islands in the southern Mozambique Channel, about
one-half of the way from Madagascar to Mozambique
Geographic coordinates:
21 30 S, 39 50 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 0.2 sq km
land: 0.2 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
about one-third the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
35.2 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical
Terrain:
volcanic rock
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 2.4 m
Natural resources:
none
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (all rock) (2001)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
maritime hazard since it is usually under water during high tide
and surrounded by reefs; subject to periodic cyclones
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
the islands emerge from a circular reef that sits atop a
long-extinct, submerged volcano
People Bassas da India
Population: uninhabited (July 2005 est.)
Government Bassas da India
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Bassas da India
Dependency status:
possession of France; administered by the Administrateur Superieur
of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Legal system:
the laws of France, where applicable, apply
Flag description:
the flag of France is used
Economy Bassas da India
Economy - overview: no economic activity
Transportation Bassas da India
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only
Military Bassas da India
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues Bassas da India
Disputes - international: claimed by Madagascar
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
======================================================================
@Belarus
Introduction Belarus
Background:
After seven decades as a constituent republic of the USSR, Belarus
