Bermuda Military Forces 🇧🇲

Strategic Position

Bermuda is a British Overseas Territory (BOT) located in the North Atlantic. Under the Bermuda Constitution Order 1968, the United Kingdom retains responsibility for the territory's external defense and foreign relations. The Governor of Bermuda acts as the Commander-in-Chief of the local forces on behalf of the British monarch.

The territory’s defense doctrine prioritizes maritime security, internal stability, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR), specifically hurricane response. Geopolitically, Bermuda occupies a position within Western Atlantic shipping lanes, making maritime domain awareness a primary concern.

Bermuda maintains bilateral security arrangements with the United States. In March 2025, the territory and the United States signed a Shiprider Agreement, authorizing Bermudian law enforcement and military personnel to operate aboard United States Coast Guard (USCG) vessels to conduct fisheries enforcement and counter-narcotics operations. Regionally, Bermuda functions as a training center for other British Overseas Territories; in 2025, the Royal Bermuda Regiment (RBR) provided foundational training for recruits from the Turks and Caicos Islands Regiment.

Military Forces

The Royal Bermuda Regiment (RBR) is the primary land and maritime defense force. It is a single-battalion infantry unit headquartered at Warwick Camp. The force is entirely voluntary, following the formal abolition of conscription. As of 2025, the active strength of the RBR is approximately 280 personnel, supported by a reserve element.

The RBR is organized into several specialized sub-units: * A Company: An infantry unit tasked with internal security and public order. * B Company: Specialized in disaster relief and humanitarian assistance, maintaining readiness for rapid deployment during the Atlantic hurricane season. * Support Company: Provides engineering, signals, and logistics capabilities. * RBR Coast Guard: Established as the maritime administrative and enforcement arm, the Coast Guard operates 24-hour patrols within Bermuda’s territorial waters (up to 12 nautical miles). * Band and Corps of Drums: Responsible for ceremonial duties and state functions.

The RBR operates under a command structure led by a Commanding Officer with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, who reports to the Governor. In November 2025, the command structure was updated with the appointment of a new Second-in-Command to oversee operational service and leadership development.

Primary equipment for the RBR includes L85A2 (SA80) assault rifles and Land Rover Defender utility vehicles. The RBR Coast Guard operates a fleet of approximately 11 vessels, including rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RHIBs) and former police patrol craft. In 2025, the maritime unit integrated Forward-Looking Infrared (FLIR) cameras and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to enhance nighttime search and rescue and fisheries enforcement capabilities.

Strategic Trends

Modernization efforts in 2025 and 2026 are concentrated on the expansion of the RBR Coast Guard. The government has initiated plans to double the number of full-time personnel in the maritime unit to 28 to ensure continuous 24-hour operational coverage. This expansion includes the development of a new Coast Guard station at St. George’s to improve response times for eastern maritime incidents.

Interoperability with regional and international partners remains a doctrinal priority. In 2025, the RBR conducted Exercise Rum Runner in Jamaica, a high-intensity training program focused on leadership and regional coordination with the Jamaica Defence Force. Additionally, the RBR utilizes the United Kingdom’s military supply chain to manage procurement costs and standardize equipment.

Defense funding is managed through the Ministry of National Security. For the 2025/2026 fiscal cycle, budget allocations focus on replacing aging maritime assets and upgrading disaster response equipment. The RBR continues to face recruitment constraints typical of an all-volunteer force, leading to a focus on joint training initiatives with other Caribbean-based regiments to maintain operational readiness. In 2025, the regiment celebrated its 60th anniversary, marking its transition from a conscripted home defense unit to a professionalized volunteer organization.