diff --git a/africa/ao.json b/africa/ao.json index 7866a108..0a3770d9 100644 --- a/africa/ao.json +++ b/africa/ao.json @@ -1160,11 +1160,8 @@ "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "20-45 years of age for compulsory and 18-45 years for voluntary military service for men (registration at age 18 is mandatory); 20-45 years of age for voluntary service for women; 24-month conscript service obligation; Angolan citizenship required; the Navy is entirely staffed with volunteers (2023)" }, - "Military deployments": { - "text": "in 2023, Angola agreed to send 500 troops to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) for 12 months to oversee cantonment of a rebel group known as M23 (2023)" - }, "Military - note": { - "text": "the Angolan Armed Forces were created in 1991 under the Bicesse Accords signed between the Angolan Government and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA); the current force is responsible for country’s external defense but also has some domestic security responsibilities, including border protection, expulsion of irregular migrants, and small-scale counterinsurgency operations against separatist groups; the Army and Air Force are some of the largest and better equipped forces in the region (2024)" + "text": "the Angolan Armed Forces were created in 1991 under the Bicesse Accords signed between the Angolan Government and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA); the current force is responsible for country’s external defense but also has some domestic security responsibilities, such as border protection; it participates in multinational exercises, as well as regional peacekeeping operations, including the deployment of several hundred troops to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2023; in recent years, the military has placed additional emphasis on maritime security and protecting offshore resources (2025)" } }, "Space": { diff --git a/africa/bc.json b/africa/bc.json index 429f4d2e..88f67644 100644 --- a/africa/bc.json +++ b/africa/bc.json @@ -728,15 +728,6 @@ }, "note": "note: annual % change based on consumer prices" }, - "Credit ratings": { - "Moody's rating": { - "text": "A2 (2020)" - }, - "Standard & Poors rating": { - "text": "BBB+ (2020)" - }, - "note": "note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained." - }, "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": { "agriculture": { "text": "1.6% (2023 est.)" @@ -1111,7 +1102,7 @@ "text": "18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2024)" }, "Military - note": { - "text": "the BDF’s key functions include defending the country's territorial integrity on land and in the air, ensuring national security and stability, and aiding civil authorities in support of domestic missions such as disaster relief and anti-poaching; it participates in regional and international security operations

Bechuanaland/Botswana did not have a permanent military during colonial times, with the British colonial administrators relying instead on small, lightly armed constabularies such as the Bechuanaland Mounted Police, the Bechuanaland Border Police, and by the early 1960s, the Police Mobile Unit (PMU); after independence in 1966, Botswana militarized the PMU and gave it responsibility for the country’s defense rather than create a conventional military force; however, turmoil in neighboring countries and numerous cross-border incursions by Rhodesian and South African security forces in the 1960s and 1970s demonstrated that the PMU was inadequate for defending the country and led to the establishment of the Botswana Defense Force (BDF) in 1977 (2024)" + "text": "the key responsibilities of the Botswana Defense Force (BDF) are defending the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity on land and in the air, ensuring national security and stability, and aiding civil authorities in support of domestic missions such as disaster relief and anti-poaching; the BDF also participates in regional and international security operations

Bechuanaland/Botswana did not have a permanent military during colonial times, with the British colonial administrators relying instead on small, lightly armed constabularies such as the Bechuanaland Mounted Police, the Bechuanaland Border Police, and by the early 1960s, the Police Mobile Unit (PMU); after independence in 1966, Botswana militarized the PMU and gave it responsibility for the country’s defense rather than create a conventional military force; however, turmoil in neighboring countries and numerous cross-border incursions by Rhodesian and South African security forces in the 1960s and 1970s demonstrated that the PMU was inadequate for defending the country and led to the establishment of the BDF in 1977 (2025)" } }, "Transnational Issues": { diff --git a/africa/bn.json b/africa/bn.json index fe11f41c..6b908412 100644 --- a/africa/bn.json +++ b/africa/bn.json @@ -737,18 +737,6 @@ }, "note": "note: annual % change based on consumer prices" }, - "Credit ratings": { - "Fitch rating": { - "text": "B (2019)" - }, - "Moody's rating": { - "text": "B2 (2019)" - }, - "Standard & Poors rating": { - "text": "B+ (2018)" - }, - "note": "note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained." - }, "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": { "agriculture": { "text": "25.4% (2023 est.)" @@ -1155,7 +1143,7 @@ "text": "18-30 years of age for voluntary and selective compulsory military service for men and women; conscript service is 18 months (2024)" }, "Military - note": { - "text": "in addition to its defense against external aggression duties, the Beninese Armed Forces (FAB) may be required to assist in maintaining public order and internal security under conditions defined by the country's president; it may also participate in economic development projects

a key focus for the security forces of Benin is countering infiltrations into the country by terrorist groups tied to al-Qa'ida and the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) operating just over the border from northern Benin in Burkina Faso and Niger; in 2022, the Benin Government said it was \"at war\" after suffering a series of attacks from these groups; later that same year, President TALON pledged to increase the size of the military, modernize military equipment, and establish forward operating bases; the military since 2022 has also deployed thousands of additional troops to the north of the country to better secure the border; in addition, the FAB participates in the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) along with Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria against Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa in the general area of the Lake Chad Basin and along Nigeria's northeastern border

the FAB has a close working relationship with the Belgian armed forces; the Belgians offer military advice, training, and second-hand equipment donations, and deploy to Benin for limited military exercises (2024)" + "text": "the Beninese Armed Forces (FAB) are responsible for defense against external aggression and may be required to assist in maintaining public order and internal security under conditions defined by the country's president; it may also participate in economic development projects

a key focus for the security forces of Benin is countering infiltrations into the country by terrorist groups tied to al-Qa'ida and the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) operating just over the border from northern Benin in Burkina Faso and Niger; in 2022, the Benin Government said it was \"at war\" after suffering a series of attacks from these groups; later that same year, President TALON pledged to increase the size of the military, modernize military equipment, and establish forward operating bases; the military since 2022 has also deployed thousands of additional troops to the north of the country to better secure the border region; in addition, the FAB participates in the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) against Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa in the general area of the Lake Chad Basin and along Nigeria's northeastern border (2025)" } }, "Terrorism": { diff --git a/africa/by.json b/africa/by.json index 4f32bffc..40629b76 100644 --- a/africa/by.json +++ b/africa/by.json @@ -1112,11 +1112,11 @@ "text": "18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women (2023)" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "770 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); estimated to have up to 10,000 in Democratic Republic of the Congo (2025)", - "note": "note: Burundi deployed military troops to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in 2022 as part of an East African regional force; as of 2025, a contingent remained in the DRC" + "text": "770 Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2025)", + "note": "note: Burundi has deployed several thousand military troops to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) since 2022 to assist the DRC Government in combating armed anti-government rebel groups; as of 2025, a contingent remained in the DRC" }, "Military - note": { - "text": "the FDNB is responsible for defending Burundi’s territorial integrity and protecting its sovereignty; it has an internal security role, including maintaining and restoring public order if required; the FDNB also participates in providing humanitarian/disaster assistance, countering terrorism, narcotics trafficking, piracy, and illegal arms trade, and protecting the country’s environment; the FDNB conducts limited training with foreign partners such as Russia and participates in regional peacekeeping missions, most recently in the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Somalia; these missions have provided the force some operational experience and funding; in recent years the FDNB has conducted operations against anti-government rebel groups based in the neighboring DRC that have carried out sporadic attacks in Burundi, such as the such as National Forces of Liberation (FNL), the Resistance for the Rule of Law-Tabara (aka RED Tabara), and Popular Forces of Burundi (FPB or FOREBU)

the Arusha Accords that ended the 1993-2005 civil war created a unified military by balancing the predominantly Tutsi ex-Burundi Armed Forces (ex-FAB) and the largely Hutu dominated armed movements and requiring the military to have a 50/50 ethnic mix of Tutsis and Hutus (2024)" + "text": "the National Defense Force (FDNB) is responsible for defending Burundi’s territorial integrity and protecting its sovereignty; it has an internal security role, including maintaining and restoring public order if required; the FDNB also participates in providing humanitarian/disaster assistance, countering terrorism, narcotics trafficking, piracy, and illegal arms trade, and protecting the country’s environment; the FDNB conducts limited training with foreign partners such as Russia and participates in regional peacekeeping missions, most recently in the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Somalia; in recent years the FDNB has conducted operations against anti-government rebel groups based in the neighboring DRC that have carried out sporadic attacks in Burundi, such as the such as National Forces of Liberation (FNL), the Resistance for the Rule of Law-Tabara (aka RED Tabara), and Popular Forces of Burundi (FPB or FOREBU); Burundi has accused Rwanda of supporting the RED-Tabara

the Arusha Accords that ended the 1993-2005 civil war created a unified military by balancing the predominantly Tutsi ex-Burundi Armed Forces (ex-FAB) and the largely Hutu dominated armed movements and requiring the military to have a 50/50 ethnic mix of Tutsis and Hutus (2025)" } }, "Transnational Issues": { diff --git a/africa/cd.json b/africa/cd.json index 2de5d765..cd279e45 100644 --- a/africa/cd.json +++ b/africa/cd.json @@ -1123,7 +1123,7 @@ "text": "Chad has committed approximately 1,000-1,500 troops to the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) against Boko Haram and other terrorist groups operating in the general area of the Lake Chad Basin and along Nigeria's northeast border; national MNJTF troop contingents are deployed within their own territories, although cross‐border operations are conducted periodically (2024)" }, "Military - note": { - "text": "the ANT has combat experience against insurgents and terrorist groups; it also has a tradition of involvement in domestic politics; over the past decade, the ANT has received foreign military assistance, particularly from France, which maintains a military base in N’Djamena; the ANT's operational focus is on counterterrorism and counterinsurgency operations; it is engaged with the Boko Haram and Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham in West Africa terrorist groups in the Lake Chad Basin area; in addition, the ANT conducts frequent operations against internal anti-government militias and armed dissident groups

a number of rebel groups operate in northern Chad, some from bases in southern Libya, including the FACT (Front pour le Changement et la Concorde au Tchad), the Military Command Council for the Salvation of the Republic le Conseil de Commandement Militaire pour le salut de la République or CCSMR), the Union of Forces for Democracy and Development (le Union des Forces pour la Démocratie et le Développement or UFDD), and the Union of Resistance Forces (le Union des Forces de la Résistance UFR); former Chadian President Idriss DEBY was killed in April 2021 during fighting in the northern part of the country between the FACT and the Chadian Army (2023)" + "text": "internal security is the primary focus of the Chadian National Army, and it is actively engaged in counterinsurgency operations against multiple terrorist and rebel groups; the terrorist groups Boko Haram and Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham in West Africa operate in the Lake Chad Basin area; meanwhile, a number of anti-government militias operate in northern Chad, some from bases in southern Libya, including the FACT (Front pour le Changement et la Concorde au Tchad), the Military Command Council for the Salvation of the Republic (le Conseil de Commandement Militaire pour le salut de la République or CCSMR), the Union of Forces for Democracy and Development (le Union des Forces pour la Démocratie et le Développement or UFDD), and the Union of Resistance Forces (le Union des Forces de la Résistance UFR); former Chadian President Idriss DEBY was killed in April 2021 during fighting between the FACT and government forces (2025)" } }, "Terrorism": { diff --git a/africa/cm.json b/africa/cm.json index 85a57053..37d8562a 100644 --- a/africa/cm.json +++ b/africa/cm.json @@ -782,18 +782,6 @@ }, "note": "note: annual % change based on consumer prices" }, - "Credit ratings": { - "Fitch rating": { - "text": "B (2006)" - }, - "Moody's rating": { - "text": "B2 (2016)" - }, - "Standard & Poors rating": { - "text": "B- (2020)" - }, - "note": "note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained." - }, "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": { "agriculture": { "text": "17.3% (2023 est.)" @@ -1231,7 +1219,7 @@ "note": "note: Cameroon has committed approximately 2,000-2,500 troops to the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) against Boko Haram and other terrorist groups operating in the general area of the Lake Chad Basin and along Nigeria's northeast border; national MNJTF troop contingents are deployed within their own country territories, although cross‐border operations occur occasionally" }, "Military - note": { - "text": "the FAC ground forces (Army and the Rapid Intervention Battalion) are largely focused on internal security, particularly the threat from the terrorist groups Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa along its frontiers with Nigeria and Chad (Far North region) and, since 2016, an insurgency from armed Anglophone separatist groups in the North-West and South-West regions; in addition, the FAC often deploys ground units to the border region with the Central African Republic to counter intrusions from armed militias and bandits; the Navy’s missions include protecting Cameroon’s oil installations, combatting crime and piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, and patrolling the country’s lakes and rivers; the FAC's small Air Force supports both the ground and naval forces (2024)" + "text": "the Cameroon Armed Forces (FAC) are responsible for defending the country's territorial integrity, providing humanitarian assistance, supporting regional peacekeeping operations, and contributing to internal security; key areas of focus are the threat from the terrorist groups Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa along its frontiers with Nigeria and Chad (Far North region) and, since 2016, an insurgency from armed Anglophone separatist groups in the North-West and South-West regions; in addition, the FAC often deploys ground units to the border region with the Central African Republic to counter intrusions from armed militias and bandits; the Navy’s missions include protecting Cameroon’s oil installations, combatting crime and piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, and patrolling the country’s lakes and rivers; the FAC's small Air Force supports both the ground and naval forces (2025)" } }, "Terrorism": { diff --git a/africa/cv.json b/africa/cv.json index abd17054..597f7f56 100644 --- a/africa/cv.json +++ b/africa/cv.json @@ -708,15 +708,6 @@ }, "note": "note: annual % change based on consumer prices" }, - "Credit ratings": { - "Fitch rating": { - "text": "B- (2020)" - }, - "Standard & Poors rating": { - "text": "B (2013)" - }, - "note": "note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained." - }, "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": { "agriculture": { "text": "4.6% (2023 est.)" @@ -1090,7 +1081,7 @@ "text": "18-35 years of age for male and female selective compulsory military service; 24-month conscript service obligation; 17 years of age for voluntary service (with parental consent) (2024)" }, "Military - note": { - "text": "the FACV is responsible for territorial defense; it also has an internal security role in collaboration with the police if required; its duties include monitoring and patrolling the country's air and maritime spaces, participating in training exercises, conducting search and rescue, countering narcotics and other forms of illicit trafficking, and supporting the police and civil society (2024)" + "text": "the FACV is responsible for external defense; it also has an internal security role in collaboration with the police if required; its duties include monitoring and patrolling the country's air and maritime spaces, participating in training exercises, conducting search and rescue, countering narcotics and other forms of illicit trafficking, and supporting the police and civil society (2025)" } }, "Transnational Issues": { diff --git a/africa/gh.json b/africa/gh.json index 8d005d5f..04dbd8b8 100644 --- a/africa/gh.json +++ b/africa/gh.json @@ -1191,7 +1191,7 @@ }, "Space": { "Space agency/agencies": { - "text": "Ghana Space Science and Technology Center (GSSTC; established 2011); note – the GSSTC is eventually slated to become the Ghana Space Agency (2024)" + "text": "Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute (GSSTI; established 2011); note – the GSSTI is eventually slated to become the Ghana Space Agency (2024)" }, "Space program overview": { "text": "has a small, nascent space program focused on research in space sciences and exploiting remote sensing (RS) technology for natural resource management, weather forecasting, agriculture, and national security issues; relies on foreign imagery for analysis but seeks to develop its own RS satellite capabilities; one of Africa’s leaders in satellite dish research; trains aerospace scientists and engineers; has established relations on space-related issues with China, Japan, and South Africa; cooperating with Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, Sudan, and Uganda to establish a joint satellite to monitor climate changes in the African continent; partner of the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) international astronomy initiative (2024)", diff --git a/africa/iv.json b/africa/iv.json index 84bcf836..ddd9e628 100644 --- a/africa/iv.json +++ b/africa/iv.json @@ -1212,10 +1212,10 @@ }, "Space": { "Space agency/agencies": { - "text": "announced in 2021 that it was in the process of establishing a national space agency (space issues currently managed by the Ministry of Scientific Research) (2024)" + "text": "Space Agency of Côte d’Ivoire (ASCI; established June 2025) (2025)" }, "Space program overview": { - "text": "has as small, nascent program focused on acquiring a remote sensing (RS) satellite for purposes detecting illegal gold mining, facilitating access to drinking water, mapping deforestation, and national security issues (2024)", + "text": "has as small, nascent program focused on acquiring a remote sensing (RS) satellite for purposes detecting illegal gold mining, facilitating access to drinking water, mapping deforestation, and national security issues; new space agency's responsibilities also include advancing the utilization of space-based technologies for sustainable development, promoting domestic expertise, and supporting scientific research (2025)", "note": "note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in the Space Programs reference guide" } }, diff --git a/africa/rw.json b/africa/rw.json index 27fb2ecb..5c2ec06e 100644 --- a/africa/rw.json +++ b/africa/rw.json @@ -770,18 +770,6 @@ }, "note": "note: annual % change based on consumer prices" }, - "Credit ratings": { - "Fitch rating": { - "text": "B+ (2014)" - }, - "Moody's rating": { - "text": "B2 (2016)" - }, - "Standard & Poors rating": { - "text": "B+ (2019)" - }, - "note": "note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained." - }, "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": { "agriculture": { "text": "27.1% (2023 est.)" @@ -1158,7 +1146,7 @@ "note": "note: as of 2022, women comprised approximately 6% of the Rwanda Defense Force" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "approximately 3,200 Central African Republic (about 2,200 under MINUSCA, plus some 700 police; approximately 1,000 under a bi-lateral agreement); approximately 3,000 Mozambique (bilateral agreement to assist with combating an insurgency; includes both military and police forces); 2,600 (plus about 450 police) South Sudan (UNMISS) (2024)" + "text": "approximately 3,200 Central African Republic (about 2,200 under MINUSCA, plus some 700 police; approximately 1,000 under a bi-lateral agreement); estimated 3,000 Mozambique (bilateral agreement to assist with combating an insurgency; includes both military and police forces); 2,600 (plus about 450 police) South Sudan (UNMISS) (2024)" }, "Military - note": { "text": "

the RDF is widely regarded as one of East Africa’s best trained and most experienced militaries; its principle responsibilities are ensuring territorial integrity and national sovereignty and preventing infiltrations of illegal armed groups from neighboring countries, particularly the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC); since 2021, Rwanda has deployed troops to the border region with the DRC to combat the rebel Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), which it has accused the DRC of backing; the RDF has been accused by the DRC, the UN, and the US of making incursions into the DRC and providing material support to the March 23 Movement (M23, aka Congolese Revolutionary Army) rebel group, which has been fighting with DRC troops and UN peacekeeping forces; the RDF also participates in UN and regional military operations, as well as multinational exercises

the Rwandan Armed Forces (FAR) were established following independence in 1962; after the 1990-1994 civil war and genocide, the victorious Tutsi-dominated Rwandan Patriotic Front's military wing, the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA), became the country's military force; the RPA participated in the First (1996-1997) and Second (1998-2003) Congolese Wars; the RPA was renamed the Rwanda Defense Force (RDF) in 2003, by which time it had assumed a more national character with the inclusion of many former Hutu officers as well as newly recruited soldiers (2024)" diff --git a/africa/sf.json b/africa/sf.json index 1e6bb9eb..3775f913 100644 --- a/africa/sf.json +++ b/africa/sf.json @@ -726,7 +726,7 @@ }, "Economy": { "Economic overview": { - "text": "upper middle-income South African economy; hard hit by COVID-19; poor utilities management; key rare earth goods exporter; high income inequality; hosts Africa’s largest stock exchange; rising unemployment, especially youth; land rights changes" + "text": "

upper-middle-income, largest southern African economy; Government of National Unity facing slow growth, fiscal gaps, and structural challenges; high income inequality, unemployment, and poverty; reforms to address electricity generation, transport, and logistics; leading producer and exporter of critical minerals

" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity)": { "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023": { @@ -780,18 +780,6 @@ }, "note": "note: annual % change based on consumer prices" }, - "Credit ratings": { - "Fitch rating": { - "text": "BB- (2020)" - }, - "Moody's rating": { - "text": "Ba2 (2020)" - }, - "Standard & Poors rating": { - "text": "BB- (2020)" - }, - "note": "note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained." - }, "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": { "agriculture": { "text": "2.6% (2023 est.)" diff --git a/africa/uv.json b/africa/uv.json index c653393f..24763db9 100644 --- a/africa/uv.json +++ b/africa/uv.json @@ -727,12 +727,6 @@ }, "note": "note: annual % change based on consumer prices" }, - "Credit ratings": { - "Standard & Poors rating": { - "text": "B (2017)" - }, - "note": "note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained." - }, "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": { "agriculture": { "text": "16.3% (2023 est.)" @@ -1103,7 +1097,7 @@ "text": "note: in 2024, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger announced they were forming joint force of 5,000 troops to combat extremist groups in the Sahel" }, "Military - note": { - "text": "the FABF has a history of interference in the country’s politics, having conducted eight coups since its formation in 1960-61, including the most recent in September 2022; several combat units were disbanded in 2011 following mutinies; while the FABF is responsible for external defense, it has an internal security role and can be called out to assist internal security forces in restoring public order, combating crime, securing the border, and counterterrorism; indeed, for more than a decade, its focus has largely been internal counterterrorism and counterinsurgency operations, and it is actively engaged in combat operations against terrorist groups affiliated with al-Qa'ida and the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS), particularly in the northern and eastern regions

in the north, Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), a coalition of al-Qa'ida linked militant groups that act as al-Qa'ida in the Land of the Islamic Magreb's (AQIM) arm in the Sahel, has exploited ethnic tensions and perceptions of state neglect, as well as grievances over corruption, patronage politics, social stratification, and land disputes; in 2024, JNIM was active in nearly all of the country's 13 provinces; the ISIS-Greater Sahara (ISIS-GS) terrorist group operates in the eastern part of the country (2024)" + "text": "the Armed Forces of Burkina Faso (FABF) are responsible for external defense but also have an internal security role and can be called out to assist internal security forces in restoring public order, combating crime, securing the border, and conducting counterterrorism/counterinsurgency operations

the FABF's primary focus is combatting militants affiliated with the al-Qa'ida and Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) terrorist groups, which have operated in the country for more than a decade and are estimated to control at least 30 percent of Burkina Faso as of 2025; Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), a coalition of al-Qa'ida linked militant groups that act as al-Qa'ida in the Land of the Islamic Magreb's (AQIM) arm in the Sahel, is strongest in the north but active in nearly all of the country's 13 provinces, while ISIS in the Greater Sahara (aka ISIS-Sahel) operates in the eastern part of the country

the FABF has a history of involvement in the country’s politics, having conducted eight coups since its formation in 1960-61, including the most recent in September 2022; several combat units were disbanded in 2011 following mutinies (2025)" } }, "Terrorism": { diff --git a/antarctica/bv.json b/antarctica/bv.json index fb82f568..62788229 100644 --- a/antarctica/bv.json +++ b/antarctica/bv.json @@ -150,11 +150,6 @@ }, "Transportation": { }, - "Military and Security": { - "Military - note": { - "text": "defense is the responsibility of Norway" - } - }, "Transnational Issues": { } } \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/australia-oceania/as.json b/australia-oceania/as.json index 5af933ff..1af90d4a 100644 --- a/australia-oceania/as.json +++ b/australia-oceania/as.json @@ -787,18 +787,6 @@ }, "note": "note: annual % change based on consumer prices" }, - "Credit ratings": { - "Fitch rating": { - "text": "AAA (2011)" - }, - "Moody's rating": { - "text": "Aaa (2002)" - }, - "Standard & Poors rating": { - "text": "AAA (2003)" - }, - "note": "note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained." - }, "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": { "agriculture": { "text": "2.6% (2023 est.)" @@ -1242,7 +1230,7 @@ "text": "note: the number of Australian military forces varies by mission; since the 1990s, Australia has deployed more than 30,000 personnel on nearly 100 UN peacekeeping and coalition military operations around the World" }, "Military - note": { - "text": "Australia has been part of the Australia, New Zealand, and US Security (ANZUS) Treaty since 1951; Australia is also a member of the Five Powers Defense Arrangements (FPDA), a series of mutual assistance agreements reached in 1971 embracing Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the UK

Australia has long-standing bi-lateral defense and security ties to the UK, including defense and security cooperation treaties in 2024 and 2013; in 2020, Australia and the UK signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate on the building of a next generation of frigates for their respective navies; the Australia-UK Ministerial Consultations (AUKMIN) is their premier bilateral forum on foreign policy, defense, and security issues 

Australia also has a long-standing military relationship with the US; Australian and US forces first fought together in France in 1918 and have fought together in every major US conflict since; Australia and the US signed an agreement in 2014 that allowed for closer bi-lateral defense and security cooperation, including rotations of US military forces and equipment to Australia; Australian military forces train often with US forces; Australia has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US, a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation 

in 2021, Australia, the UK, and the US announced an enhanced trilateral security partnership called “AUKUS” which would build on existing bilateral ties, including deeper integration of defense and security-related science, technology, industrial bases, and supply chains, as well as deeper cooperation on a range of defense and security capabilities; the first initiative under AUKUS was a commitment to support Australia in acquiring conventionally armed nuclear-powered submarines for the Royal Australian Navy

the ADF's missions include protecting Australia’s borders and maritime interests, responding to domestic natural disasters, and deploying overseas for humanitarian, peacekeeping, and other security-related missions; it regularly participates in bi-lateral and multi-lateral exercises with foreign militaries; in 2024, it established a cyber command (2024)" + "text": "the ADF's missions include protecting Australia’s borders and maritime interests, responding to domestic natural disasters, and deploying overseas for humanitarian, peacekeeping, and other security-related missions; in 2024, it established a cyber command; the ADF regularly participates in bi-lateral and multi-lateral exercises with foreign militaries 

Australia has been part of the Australia, New Zealand, and US Security (ANZUS) Treaty since 1951; Australia is also a member of the Five Powers Defense Arrangements (FPDA), a series of mutual assistance agreements reached in 1971 embracing Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the UK

Australia has long-standing bi-lateral defense and security ties to the UK, including defense and security cooperation treaties in 2024 and 2013; the Australia-UK Ministerial Consultations (AUKMIN) is their premier bilateral forum on foreign policy, defense, and security issues 

Australia also has a long-standing military relationship with the US; Australian and US forces first fought together in France in 1918 and have fought together in every major US conflict since; Australia and the US signed an agreement in 2014 that allowed for closer bi-lateral defense and security cooperation, including rotations of US military forces and equipment to Australia; Australian military forces train often with US forces; Australia has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US, a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation 

in 2021, Australia, the UK, and the US announced an enhanced trilateral security partnership called “AUKUS” which would build on existing bilateral ties, including deeper integration of defense and security-related science, technology, industrial bases, and supply chains, as well as deeper cooperation on a range of defense and security capabilities (2025)" } }, "Space": { diff --git a/australia-oceania/nc.json b/australia-oceania/nc.json index 83e2473b..24bc71d6 100644 --- a/australia-oceania/nc.json +++ b/australia-oceania/nc.json @@ -403,7 +403,7 @@ }, "Executive branch": { "chief of state": { - "text": "President Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017); represented by High Commissioner Louise LEFRANC (since 6 February 2023)" + "text": "President Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017); represented by High Commissioner Jacques BILLANT (since 3 May 2025)" }, "head of government": { "text": "President of the Government Alcide PONGA (since 8 January 2025)" @@ -476,7 +476,7 @@ }, "Independence": { "text": "none (overseas collectivity of France)", - "note": "note: in three independence referenda, on 4 November 2018, 4 October 2020, and 12 December 2021, the majority voted to reject independence in favor of maintaining the status quo; an 18-month transition period is now in place (ending 30 June 2023), during which a referendum on the new status of New Caledonia within France will take place" + "note": "note: in three independence referenda, on 4 November 2018, 4 October 2020, and 12 December 2021, the majority voted to reject independence in favor of maintaining the status quo" }, "National holiday": { "text": "Fête de la Fédération, 14 July (1790); note - the local holiday is New Caledonia Day, 24 September (1853)" diff --git a/central-america-n-caribbean/bb.json b/central-america-n-caribbean/bb.json index 9499e789..3119643f 100644 --- a/central-america-n-caribbean/bb.json +++ b/central-america-n-caribbean/bb.json @@ -711,15 +711,6 @@ }, "note": "note: annual % change based on consumer prices" }, - "Credit ratings": { - "Moody's rating": { - "text": "Caa1 (2019)" - }, - "Standard & Poors rating": { - "text": "B- (2019)" - }, - "note": "note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained." - }, "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": { "agriculture": { "text": "1.9% (2023 est.)" @@ -1101,7 +1092,7 @@ "text": "voluntary service only (men and women); 17 years, 9 months to 17 years, 11 months with letter of consent from a parent or guardian, or be in the age range of 18-25 years (18-30 for the Reserves) at the start of recruit training; citizens of Barbados by descent or naturalization (2024)" }, "Military - note": { - "text": "formed in 1979, the Barbados Defense Force (BDF) is responsible for protecting national security, but it may also be called up to maintain internal public order in times of crisis, emergency, or other specific needs, such as special joint patrols with the police; it also provides humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations both domestically and regionally under the Caribbean Regional Security System (RSS); other duties include assisting with national development, such as through the training of the country's youth with the units of the Barbados Cadet Corps 

Barbados has been a member of the RSS since its creation in 1982; RSS signatories (Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) agreed to prepare contingency plans and assist one another, on request, in national emergencies, prevention of smuggling, search and rescue, immigration control, fishery protection, customs and excise control, maritime policing duties, protection of off-shore installations, pollution control, national and other disasters, and threats to national security; the RSS is headquartered in Barbados (2024)" + "text": "formed in 1979, the Barbados Defense Force (BDF) is responsible for protecting national security, but it may also be called up to maintain internal public order in times of crisis, emergency, or other specific needs, such as special joint patrols with the police; it also provides humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations both domestically and regionally; other duties include assisting with national development, such as through the training of the country's youth with the units of the Barbados Cadet Corps 

Barbados has been a member of the Caribbean Regional Security System (RSS) since its creation in 1982; RSS signatories (Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) agreed to prepare contingency plans and assist one another, on request, in national emergencies, prevention of smuggling, search and rescue, immigration control, fishery protection, customs and excise control, maritime policing duties, protection of off-shore installations, pollution control, national and other disasters, and threats to national security; the RSS is headquartered in Barbados (2025)" } }, "Transnational Issues": { diff --git a/central-america-n-caribbean/bf.json b/central-america-n-caribbean/bf.json index 761398d9..fbb0d658 100644 --- a/central-america-n-caribbean/bf.json +++ b/central-america-n-caribbean/bf.json @@ -669,15 +669,6 @@ }, "note": "note: annual % change based on consumer prices" }, - "Credit ratings": { - "Moody's rating": { - "text": "Ba2 (2020)" - }, - "Standard & Poors rating": { - "text": "BB- (2020)" - }, - "note": "note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained." - }, "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": { "agriculture": { "text": "0.4% (2023 est.)" @@ -1039,7 +1030,7 @@ "text": "18-30 years of age for voluntary service for men and women (18-60 for Reserves); no conscription (2025)" }, "Military - note": { - "text": "the RBDF was established in 1980; its primary responsibilities are maritime security and safeguarding the territorial integrity of the Bahamas, providing disaster relief and humanitarian assistance, and supporting internal law and order in conjunction with other law enforcement agencies; the RBDF is a naval force with a few light aircraft, coastal patrol craft, and patrol boats, as well as a lightly-armed marine infantry/commando squadron for base and internal security; the RBDF has training relationships with the UK and the US (2025)" + "text": "the RBDF was established in 1980; its primary responsibilities are maritime security and safeguarding the territorial integrity of the Bahamas, providing disaster relief and humanitarian assistance, and supporting internal law and order in cooperation with other law enforcement agencies; the RBDF is a naval force with a few light aircraft, coastal patrol craft, and patrol boats, as well as a lightly-armed marine infantry/commando squadron for base and internal security; the RBDF has training relationships with the UK and the US (2025)" } }, "Transnational Issues": { diff --git a/central-america-n-caribbean/bh.json b/central-america-n-caribbean/bh.json index b0587a4b..88db28d0 100644 --- a/central-america-n-caribbean/bh.json +++ b/central-america-n-caribbean/bh.json @@ -744,15 +744,6 @@ }, "note": "note: annual % change based on consumer prices" }, - "Credit ratings": { - "Moody's rating": { - "text": "Caa3 (2020)" - }, - "Standard & Poors rating": { - "text": "CCC+ (2020)" - }, - "note": "note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained." - }, "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": { "agriculture": { "text": "8.1% (2023 est.)" @@ -1134,7 +1125,7 @@ "text": "18-23 years of age for voluntary military service; laws allow for conscription only if volunteers are insufficient, but conscription has never been implemented; initial service obligation is 12 years (2024)" }, "Military - note": { - "text": "the Belize Defense Force (BDF) is responsible for external security but also provides some support to civilian authorities; it has limited powers of arrest within land and shoreline areas, while the Coast Guard has arrest powers and jurisdiction within coastal and maritime areas; the BDF traces its history back to the Prince Regent Royal Honduras Militia, a volunteer force established in 1817; the BDF was established in 1978 from the disbanded Police Special Force and the Belize Volunteer Guard to assist the resident British forces with the defense of Belize against Guatemala

the British Army has maintained a presence in Belize since its independence; the presence consists of a small training support unit that provides jungle training to troops from the UK and international partners (2024)" + "text": "the Belize Defense Force (BDF) is responsible for external security but also provides some support to civilian authorities; it has limited powers of arrest within land and shoreline areas, while the Coast Guard has arrest powers and jurisdiction within coastal and maritime areas; the BDF traces its history back to the Prince Regent Royal Honduras Militia, a volunteer force established in 1817; the BDF was established in 1978 from the disbanded Police Special Force and the Belize Volunteer Guard to assist the resident British forces with the defense of Belize against Guatemala

the British Army has maintained a presence in Belize since its independence; the presence consists of a small training support unit that provides jungle training to troops from the UK and international partners (2025)" } }, "Transnational Issues": { diff --git a/central-america-n-caribbean/cj.json b/central-america-n-caribbean/cj.json index 087ee7ca..c32bd355 100644 --- a/central-america-n-caribbean/cj.json +++ b/central-america-n-caribbean/cj.json @@ -540,12 +540,6 @@ }, "note": "note: annual % change based on consumer prices" }, - "Credit ratings": { - "Moody's rating": { - "text": "Aa3 (1997)" - }, - "note": "note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained." - }, "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": { "agriculture": { "text": "0.5% (2022 est.)" diff --git a/central-america-n-caribbean/mh.json b/central-america-n-caribbean/mh.json index 969d4579..4469aa3f 100644 --- a/central-america-n-caribbean/mh.json +++ b/central-america-n-caribbean/mh.json @@ -487,12 +487,6 @@ "text": "-0.2% (2016 est.)" } }, - "Credit ratings": { - "Standard & Poors rating": { - "text": "BBB- (2020)" - }, - "note": "note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained." - }, "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": { "agriculture": { "text": "1.9% (2017 est.)" diff --git a/central-asia/rs.json b/central-asia/rs.json index 4b89b6d9..2cf57a89 100644 --- a/central-asia/rs.json +++ b/central-asia/rs.json @@ -808,18 +808,6 @@ }, "note": "note: annual % change based on consumer prices" }, - "Credit ratings": { - "Fitch rating": { - "text": "BBB (2019)" - }, - "Moody's rating": { - "text": "Baa3 (2019)" - }, - "Standard & Poors rating": { - "text": "BBB- (2018)" - }, - "note": "note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained." - }, "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": { "agriculture": { "text": "3.3% (2023 est.)" @@ -1297,7 +1285,7 @@ }, "Military deployments": { "text": "estimated 600,000 in Ukraine; more than 20,000 additional military personnel deployed in former Soviet states and elsewhere, including Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Libya, Moldova, Syria, sub-Saharan Africa, and Tajikistan (2025)", - "note": "note: Russia is also assessed to have thousands of paramilitary security personnel and private military contractors deployed in Africa, including in Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Libya, Mali, and Sudan" + "note": "note: Russia is also assessed to have thousands of paramilitary security personnel and private military contractors deployed in Africa, including in Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Libya, Mali, Niger, and Sudan" }, "Military - note": { "text": "the Russian military is a mixed force of conscripts and professionals (contract servicemen) that is capable of conducting the full range of air, land, maritime, and strategic missile operations; it is also active in the areas of cyber warfare, electronic warfare, and space; in addition to protecting Russia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, the military supports Moscow’s national security objectives, which include maintaining and projecting influence and power outside Russia, particularly in the former Soviet republics, and deterring perceived external threats from the US and NATO

in recent years, the Russian military has conducted combat operations in both Ukraine and Syria; in February 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and the military continues to be heavily engaged there in what is the largest war in Europe since World War II ended in 1945; Russia has occupied Ukraine’s province of Crimea and backed separatist forces in the Donbas region of Ukraine since 2014 with arms, equipment, and training, as well as Russian military troops, although Moscow denied their presence prior to 2022; Russia intervened in the Syrian civil war at the request of the ASAD government in September 2015 in what was Moscow’s first overseas expeditionary operation since the Soviet era; Russian assistance has included air support, arms and equipment, intelligence, military advisors, private military contractors, special operations forces, and training

prior to its military operations in Syria and Ukraine, Russia seized the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia by force in 2008 (2024)" diff --git a/east-n-southeast-asia/bm.json b/east-n-southeast-asia/bm.json index a5618f58..1e93d291 100644 --- a/east-n-southeast-asia/bm.json +++ b/east-n-southeast-asia/bm.json @@ -1145,7 +1145,7 @@ "Military and Security": { "Military and security forces": { "text": "Burmese Defense Service (aka Armed Forces of Burma, Myanmar Army, Royal Armed Forces, the Tatmadaw, or the Sit-Tat): Army (Tatmadaw Kyi), Navy (Tatmadaw Yay), Air Force (Tatmadaw Lay); People’s Militia

Ministry of Home Affairs: Burma (People's) Police Force, Border Guard Forces/Police (2025)", - "note": "note:  under the 2008 constitution, the Tatmadaw was given control over the appointments of senior officials to lead the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Border Affairs, and the Ministry of Home Affairs; in 2022, a new law gave the commander-in-chief of the Tatmadaw the authority to appoint or remove the head of the police force" + "note": "note 1:  under the 2008 constitution, the Tatmadaw was given control over the appointments of senior officials to lead the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Border Affairs, and the Ministry of Home Affairs; in 2022, a new law gave the commander-in-chief of the Tatmadaw the authority to appoint or remove the head of the police force

note 2: the military is supported by pro-government militias; some are integrated within the Tatmadaw’s command structure as Border Guard Forces, which are organized as battalions with a mix of militia forces, ethnic armed groups, and government soldiers that are armed, supplied, and paid by the Tatmadaw; other pro-military government militias are not integrated within the Tatmadaw command structure but receive direction and some support from the military and are recognized as government militias; a third type of pro-government militias are small community-based units that are armed, coordinated, and trained by local Tatmadaw forces and activated as needed" }, "Military expenditures": { "Military Expenditures 2023": { @@ -1176,7 +1176,7 @@ "note": "note: in February 2024, the military government announced that the People’s Military Service Law requiring mandatory military service would go into effect; the Service Law was first introduced in 2010 but had not previously been enforced; the military government also said that it intended to call up about 60,000 men and women annually for mandatory service; during the ongoing insurgency, the military has recruited men 18-60 to serve in local militias" }, "Military - note": { - "text": "since the country’s founding, the Tatmadaw has been deeply involved in domestic politics and the national economy; it ran the country for five decades following a military coup in 1962; prior to the most recent coup in 2021, the military already controlled three key security ministries (Defense, Border, and Home Affairs), one of two vice presidential appointments, 25% of the parliamentary seats, and had a proxy political party, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP); it owns and operates two business conglomerates that have over 100 subsidiaries; the business activities of these conglomerates include banking and insurance, hotels, tourism, jade and ruby mining, timber, construction, real estate, and the production of palm oil, sugar, soap, cement, beverages, drinking water, coal, and gas; some of the companies supply goods and services to the military, such as food, clothing, insurance, and cellphone service; the military also manages a film industry, publishing houses, and television stations

the Tatmadaw's primary operational focus is internal security, and it is conducting counterinsurgency operations against anti-regime forces that launched an armed rebellion following the 2021 coup and an array of ethnic armed groups (EAGs), some of which have considerable military capabilities; as of 2024, the Tatmadaw was reportedly engaged in combat operations in 10 of its 14 regional commands; it has been accused of committing atrocities in the conduct of its campaign against the pro-democracy movement and opposition forces 

the military is supported by pro-government militias; some are integrated within the Tatmadaw’s command structure as Border Guard Forces, which are organized as battalions with a mix of militia forces, EAGs, and government soldiers that are armed, supplied, and paid by the Tatmadaw; other pro-military government militias are not integrated within the Tatmadaw command structure but receive direction and some support from the military and are recognized as government militias; a third type of pro-government militias are small community-based units that are armed, coordinated, and trained by local Tatmadaw forces and activated as needed; the military regime has attempted to raise new militia units to help combat the popular uprising

EAGs have been fighting for self-rule against the Burmese Government since 1948; there are reported to be around 20 such groups operating in Burma with strengths of a few hundred up to 30,000 estimated fighters; some are organized along military lines with \"brigades\" and \"divisions\" and armed with heavy weaponry, including artillery; they control large tracts of the country’s territory, primarily in the border regions; key groups include the United Wa State Army, Karen National Union, Kachin Independence Army, Arakan Army, Ta’ang National Liberation Army, and the Myanmar Nationalities Democratic Alliance Army

the opposition National Unity Government claims its armed wing, the People's Defense Force (PDF), has more than 60,000 fighters loosely organized into battalions; in addition, several EAGs have cooperated with the NUG and supported local PDF groups (2024)" + "text": "since the country’s founding, the Tatmadaw has been deeply involved in domestic politics and the national economy; it ran the country for five decades following a military coup in 1962; prior to the most recent coup in 2021, the military already controlled three key security ministries (Defense, Border, and Home Affairs), one of two vice presidential appointments, 25% of the parliamentary seats, and had a proxy political party, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP); it owns and operates two business conglomerates that have over 100 subsidiaries; the business activities of these conglomerates include banking and insurance, hotels, tourism, jade and ruby mining, timber, construction, real estate, and the production of palm oil, sugar, soap, cement, beverages, drinking water, coal, and gas; some of the companies supply goods and services to the military, such as food, clothing, insurance, and cellphone service; the military also manages a film industry, publishing houses, and television stations

the Tatmadaw's primary operational focus is internal security, and it is conducting counterinsurgency operations against anti-regime forces that launched an armed rebellion following the 2021 coup and an array of ethnic armed groups (EAGs), some of which have considerable conventional military capabilities; as of 2024, the Tatmadaw was reportedly engaged in combat operations in 10 of its 14 regional commands

EAGs have been fighting for self-rule against the Burmese Government since 1948; they range in strength from a few hundred fighters up to an estimated 30,000; some are organized along military lines with \"brigades\" and \"divisions\" and armed with heavy weaponry, including artillery; they control large tracts of the country’s territory, primarily in the border regions; key groups include the United Wa State Army, Karen National Union, Kachin Independence Army, Arakan Army, Ta’ang National Liberation Army, and the Myanmar Nationalities Democratic Alliance Army

the opposition National Unity Government claims its armed wing, the People's Defense Force (PDF), has more than 60,000 fighters loosely organized into battalions; in addition, several EAGs have cooperated with the NUG and supported local PDF groups (2024)" } }, "Transnational Issues": { diff --git a/east-n-southeast-asia/bx.json b/east-n-southeast-asia/bx.json index 6298f57f..db96db53 100644 --- a/east-n-southeast-asia/bx.json +++ b/east-n-southeast-asia/bx.json @@ -1068,7 +1068,7 @@ "note": "note: the Gurkha Reserve Unit (GRU) employs hundreds of Gurkhas from Nepal, the majority of whom are veterans of the British Army and the Singapore Police Force who have joined the GRU as a second career" }, "Military - note": { - "text": "the Royal Brunei Armed Forces were formed in 1961 with British support as the Brunei Malay Regiment; \"Royal\" was added as an honorary title in 1965 and its current name was given in 1984; the military is responsible for ensuring the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as countering outside aggression, terrorism, and insurgency 

Brunei has a long-standing defense relationship with the UK and hosts a British Army garrison, which includes a Gurkha battalion and a jungle warfare school; Brunei also hosts a Singaporean military training detachment (2024)" + "text": "the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) are responsible for ensuring the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as countering outside aggression, terrorism, and insurgency

Brunei has a long-standing defense relationship with the UK and hosts a British Army garrison, which includes a Gurkha battalion and a jungle warfare school; Brunei also has close security ties with Singapore and hosts a Singaporean military training detachment

the RBAF was formed in 1961 with British support as the Brunei Malay Regiment; \"Royal\" was added as an honorary title in 1965 and its current name was given in 1984 (2025)" } }, "Transnational Issues": { diff --git a/east-n-southeast-asia/cb.json b/east-n-southeast-asia/cb.json index 3828fb15..1f6d7beb 100644 --- a/east-n-southeast-asia/cb.json +++ b/east-n-southeast-asia/cb.json @@ -769,15 +769,6 @@ }, "note": "note: annual % change based on consumer prices" }, - "Credit ratings": { - "Moody's rating": { - "text": "B2 (2007)" - }, - "Standard & Poors rating": { - "text": "N/A (2014)" - }, - "note": "note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained." - }, "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": { "agriculture": { "text": "17.1% (2023 est.)" @@ -1179,7 +1170,7 @@ "text": "340 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 180 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (2024)" }, "Military - note": { - "text": "the RCAF’s primary responsibilities are border, coastal, and internal security; since 2016, the RCAF has regularly conducted a small annual training exercise known as “Golden Dragon” with the military of China, its closest security partner

the RCAF was re-established in 1993 under the first coalition government from the merger of the Cambodian Government’s military forces (Cambodian People’s Armed Forces) and the two non-communist resistance forces (Sihanoukist National Army, aka National Army for Khmer Independence, and the Khmer People's National Liberation Armed Forces); thousands of communist Khmer Rouge fighters began surrendering by 1994 under a government amnesty program and the last of the Khmer Rouge forces (National Army of Democratic Kampuchea) were demobilized or absorbed into the RCAF in 1999

Cambodia continues to be one of the most densely landmine-contaminated countries in the world; by the early 1990s, various aid organizations estimated there were 8-10 million landmines scattered throughout the country, with a particularly heavy concentration on a 1,000-km (620-mile) strip along the northwest Thai-Cambodia border known as the \"K5 belt\"; the mines were laid during Cambodia’s decades-long war by the Cambodian army, the Vietnamese, the Khmer Rouge, the non-communist fighters, and US forces; part of Cambodia's defense policy is demining the territory with the intent of having the entire country cleared of unexploded ordnances by 2035; over 1 million landmines and over 3 million explosives were discovered and removed from 1992 to 2018; in 2018, the Cambodian government and Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA), a government agency, launched the National Mine Action Strategy for 2018-2025 (2024)" + "text": "the Cambodian military's primary responsibilities are border, coastal, and internal security; key security partners include China and Vietnam

the RCAF was re-established in 1993 under the first coalition government from the merger of the Cambodian Government’s military forces (Cambodian People’s Armed Forces) and the two non-communist resistance forces (Sihanoukist National Army, aka National Army for Khmer Independence, and the Khmer People's National Liberation Armed Forces); thousands of communist Khmer Rouge fighters began surrendering by 1994 under a government amnesty program and the last of the Khmer Rouge forces (National Army of Democratic Kampuchea) were demobilized or absorbed into the RCAF in 1999 (2025)" } }, "Transnational Issues": { diff --git a/east-n-southeast-asia/ch.json b/east-n-southeast-asia/ch.json index 18888eb7..a41e8c2b 100644 --- a/east-n-southeast-asia/ch.json +++ b/east-n-southeast-asia/ch.json @@ -782,18 +782,6 @@ }, "note": "note: annual % change based on consumer prices" }, - "Credit ratings": { - "Fitch rating": { - "text": "A+ (2007)" - }, - "Moody's rating": { - "text": "A1 (2017)" - }, - "Standard & Poors rating": { - "text": "A+ (2017)" - }, - "note": "note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained." - }, "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": { "agriculture": { "text": "7.1% (2023 est.)" @@ -1222,8 +1210,8 @@ }, "Military and Security": { "Military and security forces": { - "text": "People's Liberation Army (PLA): Ground Forces or People's Liberation Army Army (PLAA), Navy (PLAN, includes Marine Corps (PLANMC)), Air Force (PLAAF), Rocket Force (PLARF), Aerospace Force (ASF), Cyberspace Force (CSF), Information Support Force (ISF), Joint Logistics Support Force (JLSF), People's Armed Police (PAP, includes Coast Guard, Border Defense Force, Internal Security Forces); PLA Reserve Force (2024)", - "note": "note: the PAP is a paramilitary police component of China’s armed forces that is under the dual authority of the Central Committee of the Communist Party and the Central Military Commission; the China Coast Guard (CCG) is subordinate to the PAP" + "text": "People's Liberation Army (PLA): Ground Forces or People's Liberation Army Army (PLAA), Navy (PLAN, includes Marine Corps (PLANMC)), Air Force (PLAAF), Rocket Force (PLARF), Aerospace Force (ASF), Cyberspace Force (CSF), Information Support Force (ISF), Joint Logistics Support Force (JLSF), People's Armed Police (PAP, includes Coast Guard, Border Defense Force, Internal Security Forces); PLA Reserve Force (2025)", + "note": "note 1: the PAP is a paramilitary police component of China’s armed forces that is under the dual authority of the Central Committee of the Communist Party and the Central Military Commission; the China Coast Guard (CCG) is subordinate to the PAP

note 2: the PLA (established 1927) is the military arm of the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which oversees the PLA through its Central Military Commission (CMC); the CMC is China’s top military decision making body" }, "Military expenditures": { "Military Expenditures 2024": { @@ -1257,7 +1245,7 @@ "text": "400 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 1,030 South Sudan (UNMISS); 150 Sudan/South Sudan (UNISFA); up to 2,000 Djibouti (2024)" }, "Military - note": { - "text": "established in 1927, the PLA is the military arm of the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which oversees the PLA through its Central Military Commission (CMC); the CMC is China’s top military decision making body

the PLA is the world’s largest military; its primary responsibility is external security but it also has some domestic security duties; China’s stated defense policy includes safeguarding sovereignty, security, and development interests while emphasizing a greater global role for the PLA; the PLA conducts air, counterspace, cyber, electronic warfare, joint, land, maritime, missile, nuclear, and space operations; it trains regularly, including multinational and multiservice exercises, deploys overseas, and participates in international peacekeeping missions 

the PRC's internal security forces consist primarily of the Ministry of Public Security (MPS), the Ministry of State Security (MSS), the People’s Armed Police (PAP), and the militia; the PLA support the internal security forces as necessary:

--the MPS controls the civilian national police, which serves as the first-line force for public order; its primary mission is domestic law enforcement and maintaining order, including anti-rioting and anti-terrorism

--the MSS is the PRC’s main civilian intelligence and counterintelligence service

--the PAP is a paramilitary component (or adjunct) of the PLA; its primary missions include internal security, maintaining public order, maritime security, and assisting the PLA in times of war; the China Coast Guard (CCG) administratively falls under the PAP and has a variety of missions, such as maritime sovereignty enforcement, surveillance, resource protection, anti-smuggling, and general law enforcement; it is the largest maritime law enforcement fleet in the world

--the militia is an armed reserve of civilians which serves as an auxiliary and reserve force for the PLA upon mobilization, although it is distinct from the PLA’s reserve forces; militia units are organized around towns, villages, urban sub-districts, and enterprises, and vary widely in composition and mission; they have dual civilian-military command structures; a key component of the militia are the local maritime forces, commonly referred to as the People’s Armed Forces Maritime Militia (PAFMM); the PAFMM consists of mariners (and their vessels) who receive training, equipment, and other forms of support from the Navy and CCG (although the PAFMM remains separate from both) to perform tasks such as maritime patrolling, surveillance and reconnaissance, emergency/disaster response, transportation, search and rescue, and auxiliary tasks in support of naval operations in wartime; the PAFMM’s tasks are often conducted in conjunction or coordination with the Navy and the CCG; it has been used to assert Beijing's maritime claims in the Sea of Japan and South China Sea (2024)" + "text": "the People's Liberation Army (PLA) is the world’s largest military; the PLA's primary responsibility is external security but it also has some domestic security duties; China’s stated defense policy includes safeguarding sovereignty, security, and development interests while emphasizing a greater global role for the PLA; the PLA conducts air, counterspace, cyber, electronic warfare, joint, land, maritime, missile, nuclear, and space operations; it trains regularly, including multinational and multiservice exercises, deploys overseas, and participates in international peacekeeping missions 

the PRC's internal security forces consist primarily of the Ministry of Public Security (MPS), the Ministry of State Security (MSS), the People’s Armed Police (PAP), and the militia; the PLA support the internal security forces as necessary:

--the MPS controls the civilian national police, which serves as the first-line force for public order; its primary mission is domestic law enforcement and maintaining order, including anti-rioting and anti-terrorism

--the MSS is the PRC’s main civilian intelligence and counterintelligence service

--the PAP is a paramilitary component (or adjunct) of the PLA; its primary missions include internal security, maintaining public order, maritime security, and assisting the PLA in times of war; the China Coast Guard (CCG) administratively falls under the PAP and has a variety of missions, such as maritime sovereignty enforcement, surveillance, resource protection, anti-smuggling, and general law enforcement; it is the largest maritime law enforcement fleet in the world

--the militia is an armed reserve of civilians which serves as an auxiliary and reserve force for the PLA upon mobilization, although it is distinct from the PLA’s reserve forces; militia units are organized around towns, villages, urban sub-districts, and enterprises, and vary widely in composition and mission; they have dual civilian-military command structures; a key component of the militia are the local maritime forces, commonly referred to as the People’s Armed Forces Maritime Militia (PAFMM); the PAFMM consists of mariners (and their vessels) who receive training, equipment, and other forms of support from the Navy and CCG (although the PAFMM remains separate from both) to perform tasks such as maritime patrolling, surveillance and reconnaissance, emergency/disaster response, transportation, search and rescue, and auxiliary tasks in support of naval operations in wartime; the PAFMM’s tasks are often conducted in conjunction or coordination with the Navy and the CCG; it has been used to assert Beijing's maritime claims in the Sea of Japan and South China Sea (2024)" } }, "Space": { diff --git a/east-n-southeast-asia/id.json b/east-n-southeast-asia/id.json index d2d94624..fcd6f0bf 100644 --- a/east-n-southeast-asia/id.json +++ b/east-n-southeast-asia/id.json @@ -1242,7 +1242,7 @@ }, "Space": { "Space agency/agencies": { - "text": "Indonesian Space Agency (INASA; formed 2022); National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN; established 2021); Research Organization for Aeronautics and Space (ORPA; formed 2021)   (2024)" + "text": "Indonesian Space Agency (INASA; formed 2022); National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN; established 2021); Research Organization for Aeronautics and Space (ORPA; formed 2021) (2024)" }, "Space launch site(s)": { "text": "Stasiun Peluncuran Roket rocket launch facility (West Java); building a space launch facility/spaceport on Biak, Papua (estimated completion date is 2025) (2024)" diff --git a/east-n-southeast-asia/mg.json b/east-n-southeast-asia/mg.json index c6f716a4..a5448952 100644 --- a/east-n-southeast-asia/mg.json +++ b/east-n-southeast-asia/mg.json @@ -558,7 +558,7 @@ "text": "President Ukhnaagiin KHURELSUKH (since 25 June 2021)" }, "head of government": { - "text": "Prime Minister Luvsannamsrai OYUN-ERDENE (since 27 January 2021)" + "text": "Prime Minister Gombojavis ZANDANSHATAR (since 27 January 2021)" }, "cabinet": { "text": "Cabinet directly appointed by the prime minister following a constitutional amendment ratified in November 2019; prior to the amendment, the Cabinet was nominated by the prime minister in consultation with the president and confirmed by the State Great Hural (parliament)" @@ -748,18 +748,6 @@ }, "note": "note: annual % change based on consumer prices" }, - "Credit ratings": { - "Fitch rating": { - "text": "B (2018)" - }, - "Moody's rating": { - "text": "B3 (2018)" - }, - "Standard & Poors rating": { - "text": "B (2018)" - }, - "note": "note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained." - }, "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": { "agriculture": { "text": "9.9% (2023 est.)" diff --git a/east-n-southeast-asia/tw.json b/east-n-southeast-asia/tw.json index 5849ee9f..53d3f7df 100644 --- a/east-n-southeast-asia/tw.json +++ b/east-n-southeast-asia/tw.json @@ -545,65 +545,54 @@ "text": "high-income East Asian economy; most technologically advanced computer microchip manufacturing; increasing Chinese interference threatens market capabilities; minimum wages rising; longstanding regional socioeconomic inequality" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity)": { - "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019": { - "text": "$1.143 trillion (2019 est.)" + "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023": { + "text": "$1.743 trillion (2023 est.)" }, - "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2018": { - "text": "$1.113 trillion (2018 est.)" + "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022": { + "text": "$1.664 trillion (2022 est.)" }, - "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017": { - "text": "$1.083 trillion (2017 est.)" - }, - "note": "note: data are in 2010 dollars" + "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021": { + "text": "$1.512 trillion (2021 est.)" + } }, "Real GDP growth rate": { - "Real GDP growth rate 2019": { - "text": "2.71% (2019 est.)" + "Real GDP growth rate 2023": { + "text": "1.28% (2023 est.)" }, - "Real GDP growth rate 2018": { - "text": "2.75% (2018 est.)" + "Real GDP growth rate 2022": { + "text": "2.59% (2022 est.)" }, - "Real GDP growth rate 2017": { - "text": "3.31% (2017 est.)" - } + "Real GDP growth rate 2021": { + "text": "6.62% (2021 est.)" + }, + "note": "note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency" }, "Real GDP per capita": { - "Real GDP per capita 2019": { - "text": "$47,800 (2019 est.)" + "Real GDP per capita 2023": { + "text": "$32,300 (2023 est.)" }, - "Real GDP per capita 2018": { - "text": "$46,600 (2018 est.)" + "Real GDP per capita 2022": { + "text": "$32,600 (2022 est.)" }, - "Real GDP per capita 2017": { - "text": "$45,400 (2017 est.)" + "Real GDP per capita 2021": { + "text": "$32,900 (2021 est.)" }, - "note": "note: data are in 2017 dollars" + "note": "note: data are in current dollars" }, "GDP (official exchange rate)": { - "text": "$611.391 billion (2019 est.)" + "text": "$611.391 billion (2023 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": { - "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019": { - "text": "0.5% (2019 est.)" + "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024": { + "text": "2.2% (2024 est.)" }, - "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018": { - "text": "1.3% (2018 est.)" + "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023": { + "text": "2.5% (2023 est.)" }, - "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017": { - "text": "0.6% (2017 est.)" - } - }, - "Credit ratings": { - "Fitch rating": { - "text": "AA- (2016)" + "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022": { + "text": "3% (2022 est.)" }, - "Moody's rating": { - "text": "Aa3 (1994)" - }, - "Standard & Poors rating": { - "text": "AA- (2002)" - }, - "note": "note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained." + "note": "note: annual % change based on consumer prices" }, "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": { "agriculture": { @@ -618,22 +607,22 @@ }, "GDP - composition, by end use": { "household consumption": { - "text": "53% (2017 est.)" + "text": "48.3% (2023 est.)" }, "government consumption": { - "text": "14.1% (2017 est.)" + "text": "13.3% (2023 est.)" }, "investment in fixed capital": { - "text": "20.5% (2017 est.)" + "text": "23.7% (2023 est.)" }, "investment in inventories": { - "text": "-0.2% (2017 est.)" + "text": "-0.6% (2023 est.)" }, "exports of goods and services": { - "text": "65.2% (2017 est.)" + "text": "64% (2023 est.)" }, "imports of goods and services": { - "text": "-52.6% (2017 est.)" + "text": "-49.1% (2023 est.)" } }, "Agricultural products": { @@ -650,17 +639,22 @@ "text": "11.498 million (2020 est.)" }, "Unemployment rate": { - "Unemployment rate 2019": { - "text": "3.73% (2019 est.)" + "Unemployment rate 2024": { + "text": "3.4% (2024 est.)" }, - "Unemployment rate 2018": { - "text": "3.69% (2018 est.)" - } + "Unemployment rate 2023": { + "text": "3.5% (2023 est.)" + }, + "Unemployment rate 2022": { + "text": "3.7% (2022 est.)" + }, + "note": "note: % of labor force seeking employment" }, "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income": { - "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2014": { - "text": "33.6 (2014)" - } + "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023": { + "text": "33.9 (2023 est.)" + }, + "note": "note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality" }, "Average household expenditures": { "on food": { @@ -688,23 +682,28 @@ "text": "16% (of GDP) (2017 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "Current account balance 2019": { - "text": "$65.173 billion (2019 est.)" + "Current account balance 2023": { + "text": "$105.076 billion (2023 est.)" }, - "Current account balance 2018": { - "text": "$70.843 billion (2018 est.)" - } + "Current account balance 2022": { + "text": "$101.032 billion (2022 est.)" + }, + "Current account balance 2021": { + "text": "$118.298 billion (2021 est.)" + }, + "note": "note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars" }, "Exports": { - "Exports 2019": { - "text": "$388.49 billion (2019 est.)" + "Exports 2023": { + "text": "$432.432 billion (2023 est.)" }, - "Exports 2018": { - "text": "$383.484 billion (2018 est.)" + "Exports 2022": { + "text": "$479.415 billion (2022 est.)" }, - "Exports 2017": { - "text": "$382.736 billion (2017 est.)" - } + "Exports 2021": { + "text": "$446.371 billion (2021 est.)" + }, + "note": "note: figures complied according to the General Trade System - exports of goods and services in current dollars" }, "Exports - partners": { "text": "China 20%, USA 17%, Hong Kong 13%, Singapore 9%, Japan 7% (2023)", @@ -715,15 +714,16 @@ "note": "note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars" }, "Imports": { - "Imports 2019": { - "text": "$308.744 billion (2019 est.)" + "Imports 2023": { + "text": "$351.441 billion (2023 est.)" }, - "Imports 2018": { - "text": "$305.428 billion (2018 est.)" + "Imports 2022": { + "text": "$428.083 billion (2022 est.)" }, - "Imports 2017": { - "text": "$303.067 billion (2017 est.)" - } + "Imports 2021": { + "text": "$381.958 billion (2021 est.)" + }, + "note": "note: figures complied according to the General Trade System - imports of goods and services in current dollars" }, "Imports - partners": { "text": "China 21%, Japan 13%, USA 11%, S. Korea 9%, Australia 5% (2023)", @@ -745,17 +745,20 @@ "Currency": { "text": "New Taiwan dollars (TWD) per US dollar -" }, + "Exchange rates 2024": { + "text": "32.108 (2024 est.)" + }, + "Exchange rates 2023": { + "text": "31.15 (2023 est.)" + }, + "Exchange rates 2022": { + "text": "29.777 (2022 est.)" + }, + "Exchange rates 2021": { + "text": "28.022 (2021 est.)" + }, "Exchange rates 2020": { "text": "28.211 (2020 est.)" - }, - "Exchange rates 2019": { - "text": "30.472 (2019 est.)" - }, - "Exchange rates 2018": { - "text": "30.8395 (2018 est.)" - }, - "Exchange rates 2014": { - "text": "31.911 (2014 est.)" } } }, diff --git a/europe/au.json b/europe/au.json index 75cb66f6..12d2d293 100644 --- a/europe/au.json +++ b/europe/au.json @@ -763,18 +763,6 @@ }, "note": "note: annual % change based on consumer prices" }, - "Credit ratings": { - "Fitch rating": { - "text": "AA+ (2015)" - }, - "Moody's rating": { - "text": "Aa1 (2016)" - }, - "Standard & Poors rating": { - "text": "AA+ (2012)" - }, - "note": "note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained." - }, "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": { "agriculture": { "text": "1.3% (2023 est.)" @@ -1183,10 +1171,10 @@ "note": "note 1: as of 2023, women made up about 4% of the military's full-time personnel

note 2: in a January 2013 referendum, a majority of Austrians voted in favor of retaining the system of compulsory military service (with the option of alternative/non-military service) instead of switching to a professional army system" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "170 Bosnia-Herzegovina (EUFOR stabilization force); 290 Kosovo (NATO/KFOR); 170 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (2024)" + "text": "210 Bosnia-Herzegovina (EUFOR stabilization force); 160 Kosovo (NATO/KFOR); 160 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (2025)" }, "Military - note": { - "text": "the military’s primary responsibilities are national defense and protecting Austria’s neutrality; it also has some domestic security and disaster response responsibilities; each of the nine federal states has a military command that provides a link between the military and civil authorities; the main tasks of these commands include providing military assistance during disasters and supporting security police operations

the Austrian military contributes to international peacekeeping and humanitarian missions; Austria has been constitutionally militarily non-aligned since 1955 but is an EU member and actively participates in EU peacekeeping and crisis management operations under the EU Common Security and Defense Policy; Austria is not a member of NATO but joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace framework in 1995 and participates in some NATO-led crisis management and peacekeeping operations; it has provided troops to international peacekeeping missions in Bosnia and Herzegovina (EU), Kosovo (NATO), and Lebanon (UN) in recent years; more than 100,000 Austrian military and civilian personnel have taken part in more than 50 international peace support and humanitarian missions since 1960 (2024)" + "text": "the military’s primary responsibilities are national defense and protecting Austria’s neutrality; it also has some domestic security and disaster response responsibilities; each of the nine federal states has a military command that provides a link between the military and civil authorities; the main tasks of these commands include providing military assistance during disasters and supporting security police operations

the Austrian military contributes to international peacekeeping and humanitarian missions; Austria has been constitutionally militarily non-aligned since 1955 but is an EU member and actively participates in EU peacekeeping and crisis management operations under the EU Common Security and Defense Policy; Austria is not a member of NATO but joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace framework in 1995 and participates in some NATO-led crisis management and peacekeeping operations; more than 100,000 Austrian military and civilian personnel have taken part in more than 50 international peace support and humanitarian missions since 1960 (2025)" } }, "Space": { diff --git a/europe/be.json b/europe/be.json index ac12e387..4a234388 100644 --- a/europe/be.json +++ b/europe/be.json @@ -774,18 +774,6 @@ }, "note": "note: annual % change based on consumer prices" }, - "Credit ratings": { - "Fitch rating": { - "text": "AA- (2016)" - }, - "Moody's rating": { - "text": "Aa3 (2011)" - }, - "Standard & Poors rating": { - "text": "AA (2011)" - }, - "note": "note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained." - }, "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": { "agriculture": { "text": "0.8% (2023 est.)" @@ -1237,7 +1225,7 @@ "text": "has about 1,000 personnel deployed on foreign missions, including more than 300 ground forces deployed in Eastern Europe, as well as air and naval assets, supporting NATO missions for the defense of NATO's eastern flank (2024)" }, "Military - note": { - "text": "the Belgian military is a small, all-volunteer force equipped with modern Western equipment; its responsibilities include territorial defense, humanitarian/disaster relief, assistance to the police if required, international peacekeeping missions, and support to its NATO and EU security commitments, which Belgium considers vital components of its national security policy; outside of the country, the military operates almost always within an international organization or a coalition, such as its ongoing deployments to Africa for the EU and UN, eastern Europe as part of NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence mission, and the Middle East with an international coalition to combat the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham; Belgium was one of the original 12 countries to sign the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty) establishing NATO in 1949; it hosts the NATO headquarters in Brussels; Belgium also cooperates with neighboring countries, such as Luxembourg and the Netherlands, in conducting joint patrols of their respective air spaces and in a composite combined special operations command with Denmark and the Netherlands (2024)" + "text": "the Belgian military's responsibilities include territorial defense, humanitarian/disaster relief, assistance to the police if required, international peacekeeping missions, and support to its NATO and EU security commitments, which Belgium considers vital components of its national security policy; outside of the country, the military operates almost always within an international organization or a coalition; Belgium was one of the original 12 countries to sign the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty) establishing NATO in 1949; it hosts the NATO headquarters in Brussels; Belgium also cooperates bilaterally with neighboring countries, such as Luxembourg and the Netherlands, in conducting joint patrols of their respective air spaces and in a composite combined special operations command with Denmark and the Netherlands (2025)" } }, "Space": { diff --git a/europe/bk.json b/europe/bk.json index 9c91cb71..1c5f0c90 100644 --- a/europe/bk.json +++ b/europe/bk.json @@ -758,15 +758,6 @@ }, "note": "note: annual % change based on consumer prices" }, - "Credit ratings": { - "Moody's rating": { - "text": "B3 (2012)" - }, - "Standard & Poors rating": { - "text": "B (2011)" - }, - "note": "note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained." - }, "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": { "agriculture": { "text": "4.7% (2023 est.)" @@ -1174,7 +1165,7 @@ "note": "note: as of 2024, women made up about 9% of the military's full-time personnel" }, "Military - note": { - "text": "the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina (AFBiH) are comprised of the former Bosnian-Croat Army of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Vojska Federacije Bosne i Hercegovin, VF) and the Bosnian-Serb Republic of Serbia Army (Vojska Republike Srpske, VRS); the two forces were unified under the 2006 Law on Defense, and the combined force includes each ethnic group; the 2006 law also established the country’s Ministry of Defense

the AFBiH is responsible for territorial defense, providing assistance to civil authorities during disasters or other emergencies, and participating in collective security and peace support operations; each of the AFBiH's three combat brigades are headquartered inside of their respective ethnicity territory, while its main headquarters is in Sarajevo; Bosnia and Herzegovina aspires to join NATO; it joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace (PfP) program in 2007 and was invited to join NATO’s Membership Action Plan in 2010; the AFBiH is undergoing a 10-year (2017-2027) defense modernization and reform program for preparing to join and integrate with NATO; it has contributed small numbers of troops to EU, NATO, and UN missions

NATO maintains a military headquarters in Sarajevo with the mission of assisting Bosnia and Herzegovina with the PfP program and promoting closer integration with NATO, as well as providing logistics and other support to the EU Force Bosnia and Herzegovina (EUFOR), which has operated in the country to oversee implementation of the Dayton/Paris Agreement since taking over from NATO's Stabilization Force (SFOR) in 2004; EUFOR has about 1,100 troops from 22 countries (2024)" + "text": "the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina (AFBiH) are responsible for territorial defense, providing assistance to civil authorities during disasters or other emergencies, and participating in collective security and peace support operations; each of the AFBiH's three combat brigades are headquartered inside of their respective ethnicity territory, while its main headquarters is in Sarajevo; Bosnia and Herzegovina aspires to join NATO; Bosnia and Herzegovina joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace (PfP) program in 2006 and was invited to join NATO’s Membership Action Plan in 2010; the AFBiH is undergoing a 10-year (2017-2027) defense modernization and reform program for preparing to join and integrate with NATO; it has contributed small numbers of troops to EU, NATO, and UN missions

NATO maintains a military headquarters in Sarajevo with the mission of assisting Bosnia and Herzegovina with the PfP program and promoting closer integration with NATO, as well as providing logistics and other support to the EU Force Bosnia and Herzegovina (EUFOR), which has operated in the country to oversee implementation of the Dayton/Paris Agreement since taking over from NATO's Stabilization Force (SFOR) in 2004 (2025)" } }, "Terrorism": { diff --git a/europe/bo.json b/europe/bo.json index 70ce806a..3283a47a 100644 --- a/europe/bo.json +++ b/europe/bo.json @@ -762,18 +762,6 @@ }, "note": "note: annual % change based on consumer prices" }, - "Credit ratings": { - "Fitch rating": { - "text": "B (2018)" - }, - "Moody's rating": { - "text": "B3 (2018)" - }, - "Standard & Poors rating": { - "text": "B (2017)" - }, - "note": "note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained." - }, "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": { "agriculture": { "text": "7.3% (2023 est.)" @@ -1205,7 +1193,7 @@ "note": "note: conscripts can be assigned to the military, to the Ministry of Interior, or to the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection (alternative service)" }, "Military - note": { - "text": "the military of Belarus is responsible for territorial defense; it is a mixed force of conscripts and professionals and equipped with Russian or Soviet-era weapons; Russia is the country’s closest security partner; in 2022, Belarus allowed Russian military forces to stage on its territory for their invasion of Ukraine; in 2023, Belarus agreed to permit Russia to deploy nuclear weapons on its soil

Belarus has been a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) since 1994 and has committed an airborne brigade to CSTO's rapid reaction force; the military trains regularly with other CSTO members (2024)" + "text": "the military of Belarus is responsible for territorial defense; Russia is the country’s closest security partner, and the military conducts joint training exercises with Russian forces; in 2022, Belarus allowed the Russian military to stage on its territory for their invasion of Ukraine; in 2023, Belarus agreed to permit Russia to deploy nuclear weapons on its soil

Belarus has been a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) since 1994 and has committed an airborne brigade to CSTO's rapid reaction force; the military trains regularly with other CSTO members (2025)" } }, "Space": { diff --git a/europe/bu.json b/europe/bu.json index ea78b962..b01a5566 100644 --- a/europe/bu.json +++ b/europe/bu.json @@ -628,7 +628,7 @@ }, "Diplomatic representation from the US": { "chief of mission": { - "text": "Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Susan FALATKO (since 18 February 2025)" + "text": "Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires H. Martin McDowell (since May 2025)" }, "embassy": { "text": "16, Kozyak Street, Sofia 1408" @@ -739,18 +739,6 @@ }, "note": "note: annual % change based on consumer prices" }, - "Credit ratings": { - "Fitch rating": { - "text": "BBB (2017)" - }, - "Moody's rating": { - "text": "Baa1 (2020)" - }, - "Standard & Poors rating": { - "text": "BBB (2019)" - }, - "note": "note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained." - }, "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": { "agriculture": { "text": "2.5% (2023 est.)" @@ -1218,7 +1206,7 @@ "note": "note 1: in 2021, women comprised about 17% of the Bulgarian military's full-time personnel

note 2: in 2020, Bulgaria announced a program to allow every citizen up to the age of 40 to join the armed forces for 6 months of military service in the voluntary reserve" }, "Military - note": { - "text": "the Bulgarian military is responsible for guaranteeing Bulgaria’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, providing support to international peace and security missions, and contributing to national security in peacetime, including such missions as responding to disasters or assisting with border security; the military trains regularly including in multinational exercises with regional partners and with NATO since Bulgaria joined the organization in 2004; it also participates in overseas peacekeeping and other security missions under the EU, NATO, and the UN; in 2022, Bulgaria established and began leading a NATO multinational battlegroup as part of an effort to boost NATO defenses in Eastern Europe following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine; in 2021, Bulgaria approved a 10-year defense development program, which included calls for equipment upgrades and procurements, boosts in manpower, organizational reforms, and greater focus on such areas as cyber defense, communications, logistics support, and research and development

the Bulgarian military has participated in several significant conflicts since its establishment in 1878, including the Serbo-Bulgarian War (1885), the First Balkan War (1912-13), the Second Balkan War (1913), World War I (1915-1918), and World War II (1941-45); during the Cold War it was one of the Warsaw Pact’s largest militaries with over 150,000 personnel and more than 200 Soviet-made combat aircraft (2024)" + "text": "the Bulgarian military is responsible for guaranteeing Bulgaria’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, providing support to international peace and security missions, and contributing to national security in peacetime, including such missions as responding to disasters or assisting with border security; the military trains regularly including in multinational exercises with regional partners and with NATO since Bulgaria joined the organization in 2004; it also participates in overseas peacekeeping and other security missions under the EU, NATO, and the UN; in 2022, Bulgaria established and began leading a NATO multinational battlegroup as part of an effort to boost NATO defenses in Eastern Europe following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine; in 2021, Bulgaria approved a 10-year defense development program, which included calls for equipment upgrades and procurements, boosts in manpower, organizational reforms, and greater focus on such areas as cyber defense, communications, logistics support, and research and development

the Bulgarian military has participated in several significant conflicts since its establishment in 1878, including the Serbo-Bulgarian War (1885), the First Balkan War (1912-13), the Second Balkan War (1913), World War I (1915-1918), and World War II (1941-45); during the Cold War it was one of the Warsaw Pact’s largest militaries with over 150,000 personnel and more than 200 Soviet-made combat aircraft (2025)" } }, "Space": { diff --git a/europe/lo.json b/europe/lo.json index 1ebe824e..8cde8fec 100644 --- a/europe/lo.json +++ b/europe/lo.json @@ -1174,15 +1174,6 @@ "text": "the Slovak military was created from the Czechoslovak Army after the dissolution of Czechoslovakia in January 1993; it is responsible for external defense and fulfilling Slovakia’s commitments to European and international security; Slovakia has been a member of both the EU and NATO since 2004; a key focus of the Slovak military is fulfilling the country’s security responsibilities to NATO, including modernizing and acquiring NATO-compatible equipment, participating in training exercises, and providing forces for security missions such as NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence in the Baltic States; since 2022, Slovakia has hosted a NATO ground force battlegroup comprised of troops from Czechia, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, and the US as part of the NATO effort to boost the defenses of Eastern Europe since the Russian invasion of Ukraine; Slovakia also contributes to EU and UN peacekeeping missions

the Slovak Air Force has only a handful of fighter aircraft and is assisted by NATO’s air policing mission over Slovakia, which includes fighter aircraft from Czechia and Poland; in 2022, Slovakia signed a defense agreement with the US that allows the US to use two Slovak military air bases (2024)" } }, - "Space": { - "Space agency/agencies": { - "text": "no national government agency; the Slovak Space Office is responsible for inter-ministerial political coordination and multilateral international cooperation; it serves as the official national contact point for international cooperation between space agencies, offices, associations, businesses, and research entities, and is part of the Ministry of Education, Science, Research, and Sport (2023)" - }, - "Space program overview": { - "text": "focused on the development of satellites, satellite subcomponents, and other space-related technologies; as a member state of the EU, it is actively involved in all key components of the EU space program, and Slovak researchers actively participate in a variety of EU and/or European Space Agency (ESA) space missions including the Galileo global navigational system program, Copernicus Earth observation satellite program, Rosetta comet probe, BepiColombo (Mercury planetary orbiter), and Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) mission; has more than 40 established companies actively involved in the space sector (2023)", - "note": "note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in the Space Programs reference guide" - } - }, "Transnational Issues": { "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "refugees (country of origin)": { diff --git a/europe/up.json b/europe/up.json index 12848dff..d1eaa2b6 100644 --- a/europe/up.json +++ b/europe/up.json @@ -741,18 +741,6 @@ }, "note": "note: annual % change based on consumer prices" }, - "Credit ratings": { - "Fitch rating": { - "text": "CC (2022)" - }, - "Moody's rating": { - "text": "Ca (2023)" - }, - "Standard & Poors rating": { - "text": "CCC (2023)" - }, - "note": "note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained." - }, "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": { "agriculture": { "text": "7.4% (2023 est.)" @@ -1217,7 +1205,7 @@ "note": "note: following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, President ZELENSKY announced a general mobilization of the country; prior to the invasion, Ukraine had approximately 200,000 active Armed Forces troops, approximately 50,000 National Guard, and approximately 40,000 State Border Guard" }, "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": { - "text": "prior to the full-scale Russian invasion in February 2022, the Ukrainian military was equipped largely with Russian-origin and Soviet-era weapons systems; since the invasion, it has received considerable quantities of weapons, including Soviet-era and more modern Western systems, from European countries and the US; Ukraine also has a growing inventory of domestically-produced weapons and equipment (2024)" + "text": "prior to the full-scale Russian invasion in February 2022, the Ukrainian military was equipped largely with Russian-origin and Soviet-era weapons systems; since the invasion, it has received considerable quantities of weapons, including Soviet-era and more modern Western systems, from European countries and the US; Ukraine also has a growing inventory of domestically produced weapons and equipment (2024)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "18 years of age for voluntary service for men and women; 25 years of age for conscription for men; 18-24 months service obligation (2025)", diff --git a/middle-east/aj.json b/middle-east/aj.json index 16ed9e9e..6d90a52d 100644 --- a/middle-east/aj.json +++ b/middle-east/aj.json @@ -725,18 +725,6 @@ }, "note": "note: annual % change based on consumer prices" }, - "Credit ratings": { - "Fitch rating": { - "text": "BB+ (2016)" - }, - "Moody's rating": { - "text": "Ba2 (2017)" - }, - "Standard & Poors rating": { - "text": "BB+ (2016)" - }, - "note": "note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained." - }, "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": { "agriculture": { "text": "5.5% (2023 est.)" @@ -1134,7 +1122,7 @@ "text": "18-25 years of age for compulsory military service for men; 18-35 years of age for voluntary/contractual service for men and women; 18 months service for conscripts, 36 months for voluntary/contractual service (2023)" }, "Military - note": { - "text": "the Azerbaijani military was established in 1991, although its origins go back to 1918; much of the military’s original equipment was acquired from former Soviet military forces that departed Azerbaijan by 1992; territorial defense is the military’s primary focus, particularly with regards to neighboring Armenia; a secondary focus is guarding against Iran; Armenia and Azerbaijan engaged in open conflicts over the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave in 1991-94 and 2020; tensions continued following the 2020 conflict, and Azerbaijan seized the entire enclave in 2023 

Turkey has been Azerbaijan’s strongest military partner, a relationship that has included weapons transfers, technical advice, bilateral training exercises, and support during its conflicts with Armenia; Azerbaijan is not part of NATO but has had a cooperative relationship with it dating back to when it joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace program in 1994 and has provided troops to NATO-led missions in Kosovo (1999-2008) and Afghanistan (2002-2014) (2024)" + "text": "the Azerbaijani military was established in 1991, although its origins go back to 1918; much of the military’s original equipment was acquired from former Soviet military forces that departed Azerbaijan by 1992; territorial defense is the military’s primary focus, particularly with regards to neighboring Armenia; a secondary focus is guarding against Iran; Armenia and Azerbaijan engaged in open conflicts over the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave in 1991-94 and 2020; tensions continued following the 2020 conflict, and Azerbaijan seized the entire enclave in 2023 

key bilateral security relationships include Israel, Russia, and Turkiye; Azerbaijan's ties with Turkiye have included weapons transfers, technical advice, bilateral training exercises, and military support during its conflicts with Armenia; Azerbaijan is not part of NATO but has had a cooperative relationship with it dating back to when it joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace program in 1994 and has provided troops to NATO-led missions in Kosovo (1999-2008) and Afghanistan (2002-2014) (2025)" } }, "Space": { diff --git a/middle-east/am.json b/middle-east/am.json index 990b46fc..bf177fd4 100644 --- a/middle-east/am.json +++ b/middle-east/am.json @@ -1139,7 +1139,7 @@ "note": "note: in 2023, Armenia approved six-month voluntary service for women, after which they have the option to switch to a five-year contract; previously, women served on a contract basis; as of 2021, women made up about 10% of the active-duty military" }, "Military - note": { - "text": "the Armenian Armed Forces were officially established in 1992, although their origins go back to 1918; the modern military’s missions include deterrence, territorial defense, crisis management, humanitarian assistance, and disaster response, as well as socio-economic development projects; territorial defense is its primary focus, particularly in regards to tensions with neighboring Azerbaijan; Armenia and Azerbaijan engaged in open conflicts over the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave in 1991-94 and 2020; Azerbaijan seized the entire enclave in 2023 

Armenia has traditionally had close military ties with Russia and has hosted Russian military forces; it also had been a member of the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) since 1994 and committed troops to CSTO's rapid reaction force until suspending its membership in 2024; Armenia has relations with NATO going back to 1992 when Armenia joined the North Atlantic Cooperation Council; in 1994, it joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace program and has contributed to the NATO force in Kosovo, as well as the former NATO deployment in Afghanistan (2024)" + "text": "the Armenian Armed Forces were officially established in 1992, although their origins go back to 1918; the modern military’s missions include deterrence, territorial defense, crisis management, humanitarian assistance, and disaster response, as well as socio-economic development projects; territorial defense is its primary focus, particularly in regards to tensions with neighboring Azerbaijan; Armenia and Azerbaijan engaged in open conflicts over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh enclave in 1991-94 and 2020; Azerbaijan seized the entire enclave in 2023 

Armenia has traditionally had close military ties with Russia; it has been a member of the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) since 1994 and committed troops to CSTO's rapid reaction force until suspending its engagement in 2024; Armenia has relations with NATO going back to 1992 when Armenia joined the North Atlantic Cooperation Council; in 1994, it joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace program and has contributed to the NATO force in Kosovo, as well as the former NATO deployment in Afghanistan (2025)" } }, "Transnational Issues": { diff --git a/middle-east/ba.json b/middle-east/ba.json index a6f83d0c..76ac0ee6 100644 --- a/middle-east/ba.json +++ b/middle-east/ba.json @@ -741,18 +741,6 @@ }, "note": "note: annual % change based on consumer prices" }, - "Credit ratings": { - "Fitch rating": { - "text": "B+ (2020)" - }, - "Moody's rating": { - "text": "B2 (2018)" - }, - "Standard & Poors rating": { - "text": "B+ (2017)" - }, - "note": "note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained." - }, "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": { "agriculture": { "text": "0.3% (2023 est.)" @@ -1142,7 +1130,7 @@ "text": "18 years of age for voluntary military service; 18-55 to voluntarily join the reserves; no compulsory service (2024)" }, "Military - note": { - "text": "

the BDF is a small, but well-equipped military focused on territorial defense and support to internal security; its primary concern is Iran, both the conventional military threat and Tehran's support to regional terrorist groups; the BDF participates in multinational exercises and has conducted small deployments outside of the country; in 2015, for example, Bahrain joined the Saudi Arabia-led military intervention in Yemen, supplying a few hundred troops and combat aircraft

Bahrain’s closest security partners are the US and Saudi Arabia; it hosts the US Naval Forces Central Command (USNAVCENT; established 1983), which includes the US 5th Fleet, several subordinate naval task forces, and the Combined Maritime Forces (established 2002), a coalition of more than 30 nations providing maritime security for regional shipping lanes; in 2003, the US granted Bahrain Major Non-NATO Ally status, a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation; Bahraini leaders have said that the security of Bahrain and Saudi Arabia are “indivisible”; Saudi Arabia sent forces to Bahrain to assist with internal security following the 2011 uprising; Bahrain also has close security ties to other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, particularly Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, as well as the UK; it is a member of the Peninsula Shield Forces, a joint military force established by the GCC countries with the aim of maintaining security and stability in the region (2024)" + "text": "

the BDF (established 1968) is responsible for territorial defense and support to internal security; its primary concern is Iran, both the conventional military threat and Tehran's support to regional terrorist groups; the BDF participates in multinational exercises and has conducted small deployments outside of the country; in 2015, for example, Bahrain joined the Saudi Arabia-led military intervention in Yemen, supplying a few hundred troops and combat aircraft

Bahrain’s closest security partners are Saudi Arabia and the US; Bahraini leaders have said that the security ties of Bahrain and Saudi Arabia are “indivisible”; Saudi Arabia sent forces to Bahrain to assist with internal security following the 2011 uprising; Bahrain hosts the US Naval Forces Central Command (USNAVCENT; established 1983), which includes the US 5th Fleet and the Combined Maritime Forces (established 2002), a coalition of more than 30 nations providing maritime security for regional shipping lanes; in 2003, the US granted Bahrain Major Non-NATO Ally status, a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation; Bahrain also has close security ties with the UK, which maintains a naval support facility there

Bahrain hosts the Gulf Cooperation Council's (GCC) Unified Maritime Operations Center and is a member of the Peninsula Shield Forces, a joint military force established by the GCC countries with the aim of maintaining security and stability in the region (2025)" } }, "Space": { diff --git a/north-america/bd.json b/north-america/bd.json index 0472c9b1..1adf58b4 100644 --- a/north-america/bd.json +++ b/north-america/bd.json @@ -634,18 +634,6 @@ "text": "1.4% (2016 est.)" } }, - "Credit ratings": { - "Fitch rating": { - "text": "N/A (2015)" - }, - "Moody's rating": { - "text": "A2 (2016)" - }, - "Standard & Poors rating": { - "text": "A+ (2015)" - }, - "note": "note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained." - }, "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": { "agriculture": { "text": "0.2% (2022 est.)" @@ -950,7 +938,7 @@ "text": "men and women who are Commonwealth citizens and 18-45 years of age can volunteer for the Bermuda Regiment; service is for a minimum period of three years and two months from the date of enlistment; after completing their initial service, soldiers in the Regiment can choose to extend their service (2025)" }, "Military - note": { - "text": "defense is the responsibility of the UK; the Royal Bermuda Regiment’s responsibilities include maritime security of Bermuda’s inshore waters, search and rescue, ceremonial duties, humanitarian/disaster assistance, security of key installations, and assisting the Bermuda Police with maintaining public order; it includes explosive ordnance disposal, diver, maritime, security police, and support units (2024)" + "text": "defense is the responsibility of the UK; the Royal Bermuda Regiment’s responsibilities include maritime security of Bermuda’s inshore waters, search and rescue, ceremonial duties, humanitarian/disaster assistance, security of key installations, and assisting the Bermuda Police with maintaining public order; it includes explosive ordnance disposal, diver, maritime, security police, and support units (2025)" } }, "Transnational Issues": { diff --git a/north-america/ca.json b/north-america/ca.json index 0e6e7317..b90b0bf7 100644 --- a/north-america/ca.json +++ b/north-america/ca.json @@ -782,18 +782,6 @@ }, "note": "note: annual % change based on consumer prices" }, - "Credit ratings": { - "Fitch rating": { - "text": "AA+ (2020)" - }, - "Moody's rating": { - "text": "Aaa (2002)" - }, - "Standard & Poors rating": { - "text": "AAA (2002)" - }, - "note": "note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained." - }, "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": { "agriculture": { "text": "1.8% (2020 est.)" @@ -1254,7 +1242,7 @@ "note": "note: in 2024, Canada announced plans to have a full 2,000-person brigade deployed to Latvia by 2026" }, "Military - note": { - "text": "the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) are responsible for external security; the CAF’s core missions include detecting, deterring, and defending against threats to or attacks on Canada; the military also provides assistance to civil authorities and law enforcement as needed for such missions as counterterrorism, search and rescue, and responding to natural disasters or other major emergencies; it regularly participates in bilateral and multinational training exercises with a variety of partners, including NATO (Canada is one of the original members) and the US; the CAF also contributes to international peacekeeping, stability, humanitarian, combat, and capacity building operations with the UN, NATO, and other security partners

Canada is part of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD; established 1958); NORAD is a Canada-US bi-national military command responsible for monitoring and defending North American airspace; traditionally, a CAF officer has served as the deputy commander of NORAD; Canada’s defense relationship with the US extends back to the Ogdensburg Declaration of 1940, when the two countries formally agreed on military cooperation, including the establishment of the Permanent Joint Board on Defense (PJBD), which continues to be the highest-level bilateral defense forum between Canada and the US

British troops withdrew from Canada in 1871 as part of the UK-US Treaty of Washington; following the withdrawal, the first Canadian militia, known as the Royal Canadian Regiment, was organized in 1883 to protect Canadian territory and defend British interests abroad, which it did in the South African War (1899-1902), Canada’s first overseas conflict; militia units formed the backbone of the more than 425,000 Canadian soldiers that went to Europe during World War I in what was called the Canadian Expeditionary Force; the Royal Canadian Navy was created in 1910, while the Canadian Air Force was established in 1920 and became the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1924; the Canadian Army was officially founded in 1942; a unified Canadian Armed Forces was created in 1968 (2024)" + "text": "the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) are responsible for external security; the CAF’s core missions include detecting, deterring, and defending against threats to or attacks on Canada; the military also provides assistance to civil authorities and law enforcement as needed for such missions as counterterrorism, search and rescue, and responding to natural disasters or other major emergencies; it regularly participates in bilateral and multinational training exercises with a variety of partners, including NATO (Canada is one of the original members) and the US; the CAF also contributes to international peacekeeping, stability, humanitarian, combat, and capacity building operations, principally through NATO, but also with the UN and other security partners

Canada is part of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD; established 1958); NORAD is a Canada/US bi-national military command responsible for monitoring and defending North American airspace; traditionally, a CAF officer has served as the deputy commander of NORAD; Canada’s defense relationship with the US extends back to the Ogdensburg Declaration of 1940, when the two countries formally agreed on military cooperation, including the establishment of the Permanent Joint Board on Defense (PJBD), which continues to be the highest-level bilateral defense forum between Canada and the US

British troops withdrew from Canada in 1871 as part of the US-UK Treaty of Washington; following the withdrawal, the first Canadian militia, known as the Royal Canadian Regiment, was organized in 1883 to protect Canadian territory and defend British interests abroad, which it did in the South African War (1899-1902), Canada’s first overseas conflict; militia units formed the backbone of the more than 425,000 Canadian soldiers that went to Europe during World War I in what was called the Canadian Expeditionary Force; the Royal Canadian Navy was created in 1910, while the Canadian Air Force was established in 1920 and became the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1924; the Canadian Army was officially founded in 1942; a unified Canadian Armed Forces was created in 1968 (2025)" } }, "Space": { diff --git a/north-america/mx.json b/north-america/mx.json index 08feef27..02c369dd 100644 --- a/north-america/mx.json +++ b/north-america/mx.json @@ -774,7 +774,7 @@ }, "Economy": { "Economic overview": { - "text": "

upper-middle income economy; highly integrated with US via trade and nearshore manufacturing; low unemployment; inflation gradually decreasing amid tight monetary policy; state intervention in energy sector and public infrastructure projects; challenges from income inequality, corruption, and cartel-based violence

" + "text": "

upper-middle-income economy; highly integrated with US via trade and nearshore manufacturing; weak domestic demand, fiscal consolidation, and trade uncertainty contributing to sluggish growth; low unemployment; challenges from income inequality, corruption, and cartel-based violence

" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity)": { "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023": { @@ -1317,7 +1317,7 @@ }, "Space": { "Space agency/agencies": { - "text": "Mexican Space Agency (Agencia Espacial Mexicana or AEM; established 2010 and began operating in 2013)  (2024)" + "text": "Mexican Space Agency (Agencia Espacial Mexicana or AEM; established 2010 and began operating in 2013) (2024)" }, "Space program overview": { "text": "the AEM’s focus is on coordinating Mexico’s space policy and the country’s commercial space sector, including developing specialists, technologies, and infrastructure, and acquiring satellites; manufactures and operates communications and scientific satellites; conducts research in a range of space-related capabilities and technologies, including satellites and satellite payloads, telecommunications, remote sensing, robotics, Earth and weather sciences, astronomy, and astrophysics; has relations with a variety of foreign space agencies and commercial space industries, including those of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, the European Space Agency (ESA) and its member states (particularly France, Germany, and the UK), India, Peru, Russia, Ukraine, and the US; leading member of the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency (ALCE) (2024)", diff --git a/south-america/ar.json b/south-america/ar.json index bebd2585..d768466c 100644 --- a/south-america/ar.json +++ b/south-america/ar.json @@ -791,18 +791,6 @@ }, "note": "note: data are derived from private estimates" }, - "Credit ratings": { - "Fitch rating": { - "text": "CCC (2020)" - }, - "Moody's rating": { - "text": "Ca (2020)" - }, - "Standard & Poors rating": { - "text": "CCC+ (2020)" - }, - "note": "note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained." - }, "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": { "agriculture": { "text": "5.9% (2023 est.)" @@ -1265,7 +1253,7 @@ "text": "325 Cyprus (UNFICYP) (2024)" }, "Military - note": { - "text": "the Argentine military’s primary responsibilities are territorial defense and protecting the country’s sovereignty; other duties include border security, countering narcotics trafficking, and other internal missions, such as disaster response and infrastructure development; it also conducts support operations in Antarctica to promote an active presence in areas of national territory that are sparsely populated; the military participates in both bilateral and multinational training exercises and supports UN peacekeeping operations

Argentina participates in the Tripartite Command, an interagency security mechanism created by Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay to exchange information and combat transnational threats, including terrorism, in the Tri-Border Area; in addition, Argentina and Chile have a joint peacekeeping force known as the Combined Southern Cross Peacekeeping Force (FPC), designed to be made available to the UN; the FPC is made up of infantry, command and control, air, naval, and logistics support elements; Argentina has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US, a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation

the Army and Navy were both created in 1810 during the Argentine War of Independence, while the Air Force was established in 1945; the military conducted coups d'état in 1930, 1943, 1955, 1962, 1966, and 1976; the 1976 coup, aka the \"National Reorganization Process,\" marked the beginning of the so-called \"Dirty War,\" a period of state-sponsored terrorism that saw the deaths or disappearances of thousands of Argentinians; the defeat in the 1983 Falklands War led to the downfall of the military junta (2024)" + "text": "the Argentine military’s primary responsibilities are territorial defense and protecting the country’s sovereignty; duties also include border security, countering narcotics trafficking, and other internal missions, such as disaster response and infrastructure development; it conducts support operations and has bases in Antarctica to promote an active presence in areas of national territory that are sparsely populated; the military also participates in both bilateral and multinational training exercises and supports UN peacekeeping operations

Argentina participates in the Tripartite Command, an interagency security mechanism created by Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay to exchange information and combat transnational threats, such as crime and terrorism, in the Tri-Border Area; in addition, Argentina and Chile have a joint peacekeeping force known as the Combined Southern Cross Peacekeeping Force, designed to be made available to the UN; Argentina has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US, a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation

the Army and Navy were both created in 1810 during the Argentine War of Independence, while the Air Force was established in 1945; the military conducted coups d'état in 1930, 1943, 1955, 1962, 1966, and 1976; the 1976 coup, aka the \"National Reorganization Process,\" marked the beginning of the so-called \"Dirty War,\" a period of state-sponsored terrorism that saw the deaths or disappearances of thousands of Argentinians; the defeat in the 1982 Falklands War led to the downfall of the military junta (2025)" } }, "Space": { diff --git a/south-america/bl.json b/south-america/bl.json index bff1f8b2..ffa8907f 100644 --- a/south-america/bl.json +++ b/south-america/bl.json @@ -783,18 +783,6 @@ }, "note": "note: annual % change based on consumer prices" }, - "Credit ratings": { - "Fitch rating": { - "text": "B (2020)" - }, - "Moody's rating": { - "text": "B2 (2020)" - }, - "Standard & Poors rating": { - "text": "B+ (2020)" - }, - "note": "note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained." - }, "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": { "agriculture": { "text": "13.5% (2023 est.)" @@ -1197,7 +1185,7 @@ } }, "Military and security service personnel strengths": { - "text": "approximately 35,000 active-duty Armed Forces (2025)" + "text": "approximately 30-35,000 active-duty Armed Forces (2025)" }, "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": { "text": "the military is equipped with a mix of mostly older Brazilian, Chinese, European, and US equipment (2024)" @@ -1207,7 +1195,7 @@ "note": "note 1: foreign nationals 18-22 residing in Bolivia may join the armed forces; joining speeds the process of acquiring Bolivian citizenship by naturalization

note 2: as of 2022, women comprised about 8% of the Bolivian military's personnel" }, "Military - note": { - "text": "the Bolivian Armed Forces (FAB) are responsible for territorial defense but also have some internal security duties, particularly counternarcotics and border security; the FAB shares responsibility for border enforcement with the National Police (PNB), and it may be called out to assist the PNB with maintaining public order in critical situations

Bolivia has a small naval force for patrolling some 5,000 miles of navigable rivers to combat narcotics trafficking and smuggling, provide disaster relief, and deliver supplies to remote rural areas, as well as for maintaining a presence on Lake Titicaca; the Navy also exists in part to cultivate a maritime tradition and as a reminder of Bolivia’s defeat at the hands of Chile in the War of the Pacific (1879-1883), and its desire to regain access to the Pacific Ocean; every year on 23 March, the Navy participates in parades and government ceremonies commemorating the Día Del Mar (Day of the Sea) holiday that remembers the loss (2024)" + "text": "the Bolivian Armed Forces (FAB) are responsible for territorial defense but also have some internal security duties, particularly counternarcotics and border security; the FAB shares responsibility for border enforcement with the National Police (PNB), and it may be called out to assist the PNB with maintaining public order in critical situations

land-locked Bolivia has a naval force for patrolling some 5,000 miles of navigable rivers to combat narcotics trafficking and smuggling, provide disaster relief, and deliver supplies to remote rural areas, as well as for maintaining a presence on Lake Titicaca; the Navy also exists in part to cultivate a maritime tradition and as a reminder of Bolivia’s defeat at the hands of Chile in the War of the Pacific (1879-1883), and its desire to regain access to the Pacific Ocean; every year on 23 March, the Navy participates in parades and government ceremonies commemorating the Día Del Mar (Day of the Sea) holiday that remembers the loss (2025)" } }, "Space": { diff --git a/south-america/br.json b/south-america/br.json index 8cbe4ce0..bc2dbe2a 100644 --- a/south-america/br.json +++ b/south-america/br.json @@ -754,7 +754,7 @@ }, "Economy": { "Economic overview": { - "text": "

upper-middle income, largest Latin American economy; Mercosur, BRICS, G20 member and OECD accession candidate; growth driven by strong domestic consumption; tax simplification reforms aimed at addressing business conditions and lagging productivity; high inequality in income and access to health and education

" + "text": "

upper-middle-income, largest Latin American economy; Mercosur, BRICS, G20 member and OECD accession candidate; growth driven by strong domestic consumption; monetary tightening helping curb inflation rate; high inequality in income and access to health and education

" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity)": { "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023": { @@ -808,18 +808,6 @@ }, "note": "note: annual % change based on consumer prices" }, - "Credit ratings": { - "Fitch rating": { - "text": "BB (2023)" - }, - "Moody's rating": { - "text": "Ba2 (2016)" - }, - "Standard & Poors rating": { - "text": "BB- (2018)" - }, - "note": "note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained." - }, "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": { "agriculture": { "text": "6.2% (2023 est.)" @@ -1298,7 +1286,7 @@ "note": "note: in 2024, women were reported to comprise approximately 10% of the Brazilian military" }, "Military - note": { - "text": "the Brazilian Armed Forces (BAF) are the second largest military in the Western Hemisphere behind the US; they are responsible for external security and protecting the country's sovereignty but also have a considerable internal security role; the BAF’s missions include patrolling and protecting the country’s long borders and coastline and extensive territorial waters and river network, assisting with internal security, providing domestic disaster response and humanitarian assistance, and participating in multinational peacekeeping missions

in the past decade, the BAF has mobilized thousands of troops to conduct counternarcotics operations, support the police in combating crime, assist with disease outbreaks and humanitarian missions, and provide security for major events such as the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics; it has also cooperated regularly with neighboring countries such as Argentina and Paraguay on border security to combat smuggling and trafficking 

Brazil has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US, a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation

the origins of Brazil's military stretch back to the 1640s; Brazil provided a 25,000-man expeditionary force with air and ground units to fight with the Allies in the Mediterranean Theater during World War II; the Navy participated in the Battle of the Atlantic (2025)" + "text": "the Brazilian Armed Forces (BAF) are the second largest military in the Western Hemisphere behind the US; they are responsible for external security and protecting the country's sovereignty but also have an internal security role; the BAF’s missions include patrolling and protecting the country’s long borders and coastline and extensive territorial waters and river network, assisting with internal security, providing domestic disaster response and humanitarian assistance, and participating in multinational peacekeeping missions; it also cooperates with neighboring countries such as Argentina and Paraguay to combat cross-border smuggling and trafficking 

Brazil has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US, a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation

the origins of Brazil's military stretch back to the 1640s; Brazil provided a 25,000-man expeditionary force with air and ground units to fight with the Allies in the Mediterranean Theater during World War II; the Navy participated in the Battle of the Atlantic (2025)" } }, "Space": { diff --git a/south-america/ci.json b/south-america/ci.json index 514e21d1..3bd14bdd 100644 --- a/south-america/ci.json +++ b/south-america/ci.json @@ -779,18 +779,6 @@ }, "note": "note: annual % change based on consumer prices" }, - "Credit ratings": { - "Fitch rating": { - "text": "A- (2020)" - }, - "Moody's rating": { - "text": "A1 (2018)" - }, - "Standard & Poors rating": { - "text": "A+ (2017)" - }, - "note": "note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained." - }, "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": { "agriculture": { "text": "3.5% (2023 est.)" @@ -1230,7 +1218,7 @@ "note": "note: as of 2024, women comprised approximately 20% of the armed forces" }, "Military - note": { - "text": "the Chilean military's primary responsibility is territorial defense and ensuring the country’s sovereignty; it also assists with disaster and humanitarian relief and some internal security duties such as border security or maintaining public order if required; a key focus in recent years has been assisting with securing the border area with Bolivia and Peru; it trains regularly and participates in bilateral and multinational training exercises, as well as international peacekeeping operations 

Chile and Argentina have a joint peacekeeping force known as the Combined Southern Cross Peacekeeping Force (FPC), designed to be made available to the UN; the FPC is made up of air, ground, and naval components, as well as a combined logistics support unit

the Chilean Army was founded in 1810, but traces its origins back to the Army of the Kingdom of Chile, which was established by the Spanish Crown in the early 1600s; Chile's military aviation was inaugurated in 1913 with the creation of a military aviation school; the Navy traces its origins to 1817; it was first led by a British officer and the first ships were largely crewed by American, British, and Irish sailors; by the 1880s, the Chilean Navy was one of the most powerful in the Americas, and included the world’s first protected cruiser (a ship with an armored deck to protect vital machine spaces) (2024)" + "text": "the Chilean military's responsibilities are territorial defense, ensuring the country’s sovereignty, assisting with disaster and humanitarian relief, and providing some internal security duties such as border security or maintaining public order if required; a key focus in recent years has been assisting with securing the border area with Bolivia and Peru; it trains regularly and participates in bilateral and multinational training exercises, as well as international peacekeeping operations 

Chile and Argentina have a joint peacekeeping force known as the Combined Southern Cross Peacekeeping Force (FPC), designed to be made available to the UN; the FPC is made up of air, ground, and naval components, as well as a combined logistics support unit

the Chilean Army was founded in 1810, but traces its origins back to the Army of the Kingdom of Chile, which was established by the Spanish Crown in the early 1600s; Chile's military aviation was inaugurated in 1913 with the creation of a military aviation school; the Navy traces its origins to 1817; it was first led by a British officer and the first ships were largely crewed by American, British, and Irish sailors; by the 1880s, the Chilean Navy was one of the most powerful in the Americas, and included the world’s first protected cruiser (a ship with an armored deck to protect vital machine spaces) (2025)" } }, "Space": { diff --git a/south-america/co.json b/south-america/co.json index 36bab6af..b20fd61a 100644 --- a/south-america/co.json +++ b/south-america/co.json @@ -782,18 +782,6 @@ }, "note": "note: annual % change based on consumer prices" }, - "Credit ratings": { - "Fitch rating": { - "text": "BBB- (2020)" - }, - "Moody's rating": { - "text": "Baa2 (2014)" - }, - "Standard & Poors rating": { - "text": "BBB- (2017)" - }, - "note": "note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained." - }, "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": { "agriculture": { "text": "8.7% (2023 est.)" @@ -1233,7 +1221,7 @@ } }, "Military and security service personnel strengths": { - "text": "information varies; approximately 260,000 active Military Forces (200,000 Army; 45,000 Navy, including about 20,000 marines; 15,000 Air Force); approximately 150,000 National Police (2025)" + "text": "information varies; approximately 260,000 active Military Forces; approximately 150,000 National Police (2025)" }, "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": { "text": "the military's inventory includes a wide mix of equipment from a variety of suppliers, including Canada, Germany, Israel, South Korea, and especially the US; Colombia's defense industry is active in producing air, land, and naval platforms (2024)" @@ -1243,10 +1231,10 @@ "note": "note: the Colombian military first incorporated women in 1976 in administrative positions; women were incorporated as non-commissioned officers in 1983 and officers in 2009; as of 2023, about 6,000 women served in the uniformed military while more than 30,000 served in the National Police" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "275 Egypt (MFO) (2024)" + "text": "275 Egypt (MFO) (2025)" }, "Military - note": { - "text": "the Colombian military is responsible for defending and maintaining the country’s independence, national sovereignty, and territorial integrity but also has a considerable internal security role, which includes protecting the civilian population, as well as private and state-owned assets, and ensuring a secure environment; the military’s primary focus is the conduct of operations against domestic illegal armed groups, including drug traffickers, several factions of the former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) terrorist group, and the insurgent/terrorist group National Liberation Army (ELN); these operations are challenged by difficult topography and long and porous land borders

the Colombian Government signed a peace agreement with the FARC in 2016, but some former members (known as dissidents) have returned to fighting (note - these dissident groups include the US-designated foreign terrorist groups Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia - People's Army or FARC-EP and Segunda Marquetalia); since 2017, the Colombian Government has had periodic cease-fire and peace discussions with ELN and the FARC dissidents, including a 6-month cease-fire with the ELN in 2023-2024

the military is also focused on the security challenges posed by its neighbor, Venezuela, where instability has attracted narcotics traffickers, and both the ELN and FARC dissidents operate openly; Colombia shares a 1,370-mile (2,200 km) border with Venezuela; ELN and FARC insurgents have also used neighboring Ecuador to rest, resupply, and shelter

Colombia has close security ties with the US, including joint training, military assistance, and designation in 2022 as a Major Non-NATO Ally, which provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense, trade, and security cooperation; it also has close ties with some regional neighbors, such as Argentina, Chile, and Peru; Colombian military and security forces have training programs with their counterparts from a variety of countries, mostly those from Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean (2024)" + "text": "the Colombian military is responsible for defending and maintaining the country’s independence, national sovereignty, and territorial integrity but also has a considerable internal security role, which includes protecting the civilian population, as well as private and state-owned assets, and ensuring a secure environment; the military’s primary focus is the conduct of counterinsurgency and counter-narcotics operations against domestic illegal armed groups, including drug traffickers, several factions of the former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) terrorist group, and the insurgent/terrorist group National Liberation Army (ELN)

border security is also a focus, particularly with Venezuela where economic and political instability has brought refugees and attracted narcotics trafficking and other cross-border crime; both the ELN and FARC dissidents operate openly in the border region; ELN and FARC insurgents have also used neighboring Ecuador to rest, resupply, and shelter

Colombia has close security ties with the US, including joint training, military assistance, and designation in 2022 as a Major Non-NATO Ally, which provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense, trade, and security cooperation; it also has close security ties with regional neighbors, such as Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Peru; Colombian military and security forces have training programs with their counterparts from a variety of countries, mostly those from Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean (2025)" } }, "Space": { diff --git a/south-asia/bg.json b/south-asia/bg.json index 301354c0..faec9f1b 100644 --- a/south-asia/bg.json +++ b/south-asia/bg.json @@ -718,18 +718,6 @@ }, "note": "note: annual % change based on consumer prices" }, - "Credit ratings": { - "Fitch rating": { - "text": "BB- (2014)" - }, - "Moody's rating": { - "text": "Ba3 (2012)" - }, - "Standard & Poors rating": { - "text": "BB- (2010)" - }, - "note": "note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained." - }, "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": { "agriculture": { "text": "11% (2023 est.)" @@ -1177,7 +1165,7 @@ "note": "note: as of early 2024, Bangladesh had nearly 6,000 total military and police personnel deployed on UN missions" }, "Military - note": { - "text": "the military’s primary responsibility is external defense but it also has a domestic security role and has traditionally been a significant player in the country’s politics, as well as its economy; following widespread domestic protests in September 2024, the Army was given law enforcement powers for 60 days, including making arrests, conducting searches, and dispersing unlawful assemblies; the military has a long history of participating in UN peacekeeping missions, which has provided operational experience and a source of funding; it runs an international institute for the training of peacekeepers; the military also conducts multinational and bilateral exercises with foreign partners, particularly India; it has commercial business interests in such areas as banking, food, hotels, manufacturing, real estate, and shipbuilding, and manages government infrastructure and construction projects (2024)" + "text": "the military’s primary responsibility is external defense but it also has a domestic security role; following widespread domestic protests in September 2024, the Army was given law enforcement powers, including making arrests, conducting searches, and dispersing unlawful assemblies; the military has traditionally been a significant player in the country's politics and has commercial business interests in such areas as banking, food, hotels, manufacturing, real estate, and shipbuilding, and manages government infrastructure and construction projects

the military has a long history of participating in UN peacekeeping missions, which has provided operational experience and a source of funding; it runs an international institute for the training of peacekeepers; the military also conducts multinational and bilateral exercises with foreign partners, particularly India (2025)" } }, "Space": { diff --git a/south-asia/bt.json b/south-asia/bt.json index 42906e60..e14c1122 100644 --- a/south-asia/bt.json +++ b/south-asia/bt.json @@ -1041,7 +1041,7 @@ "text": "190 Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2024)" }, "Military - note": { - "text": "the Army is responsible for external threats but also has some internal security functions such as conducting counterinsurgency operations, guarding forests, and providing security for prominent persons; Bhutan relies on India for military training, arms supplies, and the country’s air defense (2024)" + "text": "the Army is responsible for external threats but also has some internal security functions such as conducting counterinsurgency operations, guarding forests, and providing security for prominent persons; Bhutan's closest security partner is India; under the 2007 India-Bhutan Friendship Treaty, both countries agreed to cooperate closely on issues relating to their national interests (2025)" } }, "Space": {