Demilitarized zone

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"Demilitarized zone" (DMZ) is also a term used in computer networking. See demilitarized zone (computing).

In military terms, a demilitarized zone (DMZ) is an area, usually the frontier or boundary between two or more military powers (or alliances), where military activity is not permitted, usually by peace treaty, armistice or other bilateral or multilateral agreement. Often the demilitarized zone lies upon a line of control and forms a de-facto international border.

Several demilitarized zones have also unintentionally become wildlife preserves, as they cause the land which they sit on to be too dangerous for construction and less exposed to human disturbance or hunting. See Korean Demilitarized Zone.

Generally, "demilitarized" means converted to non-military use or purpose, returned to a civilian field. In such meaning the term is often used in former Soviet countries both in Western and local (transliterated) languages.

Although many demilitarized zones are also neutral territory, since neither side is allowed to control it even for civilian administration, there are cases where a zone remains demilitarized after an agreement awarding full control to one state, which relinquished the normal right to establish any military forces or installations there.

It is also possible for powers to agree on the demilitarization of a zone without formally settling their still conflicting territorial claims, implying these are only to be pursued by peaceful means (such as diplomatic dialogue or an international court), or even frozen.

Current Demilitarized (mostly Neutral) Zones

Africa

Between northern Morocco and the Spanish-controlled cities of Ceuta and Melilla lies a demilitarized zone. Morocco has never recognized Ceuta and Melilla as part of Spain.

See: Ceuta border fence and Melilla border fence.

Europe

The Cypriot demilitarized zone separates the self-proclaimed and internationally unrecognized Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus from the Republic of Cyprus. It was created by the United Nations in 1974 after the Turkish invasion of Cyprus.

Åland (Ahvenanmaa in Finnish) is an autonomous island region on the coast of Finland (in the Gulf of Bothnia). It was made a demilitarized zone in 1921 by the League of Nations, after the Åland crisis from 1920 to 1922.

A neutral territory exists between the British crown colony of Gibraltar and Spain. A strip of land of width "600 toises, being more than 2 cannon shots distance between the British guns and the Spanish guns" would be considered "the neutral ground" stipulated by the Treaty of Seville in 1729. In 1908 the British constructed a fence at the British side of the neutral territory. In order not to offend the Spanish, the fence was actually 1 metre inside British territory. Even though both the United Kingdom and Spain are part of the European Union, the border fence is still relevant today since Gibraltar maintains its tax haven status. The border crossing is open 24 hours a day to facilitate customs collection by Spain.

Svalbard: The Svalbard Treaty of 9 February 1920 recognized Norwegian sovereignty (so it is not a neutral territory), ending the territorial claims of all other signatories, and designated the area as demilitarized.

A 2.5 km wide DMZ existed between Serbia and Kosovo following the Balkan Wars.

Asia

Kuwait-Iraq barrier
The Korean Demilitarized Zone separates North Korea and South Korea. It was created by the United Nations in 1953 allowing cease fire to the Korean War.
UNDOF Zone between Golan Heights and Syria

Antarctica

Article 1 of the main Antarctic Treaty forbids military activity in Antarctica, though military personnel and equipment may be used for peaceful purposes.

Famous former demilitarized zones

The German Rhineland was made a demilitarized zone after World War I by the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. Rheinland was re-occupied and re-militarized in 1936 by Nazi Germany.

Israel and Syria: Following the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, 3 DMZs were created by the 1949 Armistice Agreements between Israel and Syria, as indicated on this map

Israel and Egypt: Following the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, a DMZ was created by the 1949 Armistice Agreements between Israel and Egypt.

Israel and Jordan: Following the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, the Israeli enclave in Mt. Scopus was designated as a DMZ.

China: Japanese forces conquered Manchuria between September 1931 and February 1932, when they proclaimed the region to be the puppet state of Manchukuo. In May of 1933, the Tanggu Truce between China and Japan was concluded, which established a demilitarized zone between Manchukuo and China proper.

Vietnam: The demilitarized zone between North and South Vietnam was established in April, 1954 as a result of the Geneva Conference ending the war between the Viet Minh and the French. The DMZ in Vietnam lay at the 17th parallel. In reality, the DMZ extended about a mile on either side of the Ben Hai River and west to east from the Lao border to the South China Sea.

Norway and Sweden established a demilitarized zone of one kilometre on each side of the border after the dissolution of the union between Norway and Sweden in 1905. The zone was disbanded by mutual agreement in 1993.

Saudi-Iraqi neutral zone

Saudi-Kuwaiti neutral zone