A demilitarized zone (DMZ or DZ)[1] is an area in which treaties or agreements between states, military powers or contending groups forbid military installations, activities, or personnel. A DZ often lies along an established frontier or boundary between two or more military powers or alliances. A DZ may sometimes form a de facto international border, such as the
Korean Demilitarized Zone. Other examples of demilitarized zones are a 9-mile wide
area between Iraq and Kuwait;
Antarctica (preserved for scientific exploration and study); and
outer space (space more than 100 km or 62 mi from the Earth's surface).
Many demilitarized zones are considered
neutral territory because neither side is allowed to control it, even for non-combat administration. Some zones remain demilitarized after an agreement has awarded control to a state which (under the DZ terms) had originally ceded its right to maintain military forces in the disputed territory. It is also possible for powers to agree on the demilitarization of a zone without formally settling their respective territorial claims, enabling the dispute to be resolved by peaceful means such as diplomatic dialogue or an international court.
Antarctica – The
Antarctic Treaty forbids military activity in Antarctica, such as "the establishment of military bases and fortifications, the carrying out of military manoeuvres, as well as the testing of any type of weapon". The Treaty does however provide for the "use of military personnel or equipment for scientific research or for any other peaceful purpose".[2]
Joint Control Commission – Known locally as the Dniester Valley Security Zone, the demilitarized buffer zone was created by the cease-fire agreement ending the
War of Transnistria. The Commission's peacekeeping mission monitors the demilitarized zone which roughly outlines the
Dnister river between
Moldova and
Transnistria. It is 225 kilometers long and from 1 to 15 kilometers wide.
Martín García Island – An Argentine island surrounded by
Uruguayan waters of the
Río de la Plata, according to the 45th article of the
Río de la Plata Treaty it states that "the Martín García Island will be destined exclusively as a natural reserve for the conservation and preservation of the native fauna and flora, under the jurisdiction of the
Argentine Republic", stating a demilitarized zone in the island.
Sinai Peninsula – The
Egypt–Israel peace treaty sets a limit to the amount of forces
Egypt can place in the Sinai Peninsula. Parts of the peninsula are demilitarized to various degrees, especially within 20–40 kilometres (12–25 miles) of
Israel. Israel also agreed to limit its forces within 3 kilometres (1.9 miles) of the Egyptian border.[6] The areas are monitored by the
Multinational Force and Observers.[7] Because of the
Sinai insurgency all sides agreed and encouraged Egypt to send large amounts of military forces into the area, including tanks and helicopters, to fight Islamist groups.[8][9][10][11]
A neutral territory was established between the
British Overseas Territory of
Gibraltar and
Spain after the end of the
1727 siege. A strip of land 600
toises (about 1.2 km or 3⁄4 mi) long,[citation needed] more than two cannon shots' distance between the British and Spanish guns, was called "the neutral ground" and shown as such on older maps. In 1908, the British built a fence in a portion claimed to be the British half of the neutral territory. Spain
does not recognize British sovereignty over the isthmus (including the border), asserting it is Spanish soil. Although both the United Kingdom and Spain used to be part of the
European Union (before the United Kingdom's exit), the border was a de facto international frontier with customs and immigration checks; Spain does not formally recognize it as a "frontier", referring to it as a "fence". Whatever its name, Gibraltar opted out of the
European Union Customs Union and is not part of the
Schengen Area; the border is open 24 hours a day, with
customs duties payable on designated goods entering Spain or Gibraltar.
Israel and Syria: Following the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, three DMZs were created by the
1949 Armistice Agreements between Israel and Syria.[14]
China – The Imperial Japanese Army conquered
Manchuria between September 1931 and February 1932, when they proclaimed the region the state of
Manchukuo. In May 1933, the
Tanggu Truce between China and Japan was concluded, establishing a demilitarized zone between Manchukuo and China. In 1937 Japan violated this truce with an invasion of the remainder of China. In 1945, after the fall of the Japanese empire at the end of the
Asia-Pacific theater of
World War II, Manchuria was re-incorporated into China.
Ecuador – a demilitarized zone was established on 2 October 1941, after the
war between Ecuador and
Peru, which existed under
Ecuadorian administration and under the observation of neutral mediator nations: the United States, Brazil and Argentina.[15] The DMZ was abolished in 1942, with the withdrawal of
Peruvian forces from
El Oro Province after the signing of the
Rio Protocol.
Norway and Sweden established a demilitarized zone of 1 km (1,100 yards) on each side of their border after the
dissolution of the union between Norway and Sweden in 1905. The zone was abolished by mutual agreement in 1993.
Northern Syria Buffer Zone – A 115 km (71 mi) demilitarized zone in northern Syria straddling portions of the
Syria–Turkey border. It was established between Turkey and the United States, both
NATO allies, during the
Syrian Civil War to prevent clashes between
Kurdish and Turkish forces.[16] The DMZ collapsed in October 2019, after Turkey dismissed the agreement and the United States ordered a withdrawal of US forces from northern Syria, allowing the
2019 Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria to go ahead.[17]