Grenada Military Forces 🇬🇩

Strategic Position

Grenada is located at the southern extremity of the Grenadines island chain in the southeastern Caribbean Sea. Its defense posture is defined by the absence of a standing military, a policy enacted following the 1983 US-led intervention (Operation Urgent Fury) and the subsequent disbandment of the People’s Revolutionary Army. Security responsibilities are consolidated under a national police structure.

The primary security concerns for the state include maritime drug trafficking, illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and disaster response. As an island nation situated near major transit routes for South American narcotics bound for North America and Europe, Grenada focuses its strategic efforts on maritime domain awareness and border integrity.

Grenada is a member of the Regional Security System (RSS), a collective defense treaty among Eastern Caribbean states. Under the RSS treaty, member states agree to provide mutual assistance in response to external aggression, internal conflicts, or natural disasters. The state also participates in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Organization of American States (OAS). The United States remains the primary external security partner, providing training and equipment through the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI).

Military Forces

National security is maintained by the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF), which functions as a paramilitary organization in the absence of a formal army, navy, or air force. The RGPF comprises approximately 900 to 1,000 personnel. While the majority of the force performs civil policing duties, specialized units provide light infantry and maritime defense capabilities.

The Special Service Unit (SSU) is the RGPF’s paramilitary wing. SSU personnel receive training in tactical operations, border security, and counter-narcotics, often conducted in coordination with the United States and the United Kingdom. The unit is equipped with small arms, including M16 rifles and sidearms, and utilizes soft-skinned transport vehicles. The SSU is the primary force contributed to RSS collective security deployments.

The Grenada Coast Guard is the maritime component of the RGPF. It is tasked with search and rescue, fisheries protection, and counter-smuggling operations. The fleet consists of coastal patrol boats and interceptors. These assets include vessels provided under the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative, such as Defender-class interceptors and Dauntless-class patrol boats. The Coast Guard maintains a base at True Blue and operates in conjunction with the RSS Air Wing for aerial surveillance support, as Grenada does not operate military aircraft.

Training for RGPF personnel is frequently facilitated through the US International Military Education and Training (IMET) program. This includes specialized courses for officers and technical training for Coast Guard maintenance personnel.

Strategic Trends

The current defense strategy emphasizes modernization of maritime surveillance and the integration of digital technology into law enforcement. Procurement remains heavily dependent on foreign military financing and donations from international partners. Recent efforts have prioritized the upgrade of communications infrastructure to ensure interoperability with RSS partners during joint operations.

Defense and security spending typically accounts for a small percentage of the national budget, focused primarily on personnel costs and maintenance of donated equipment. A primary constraint facing the RGPF is the high cost of maintaining specialized maritime assets in a tropical environment, which leads to periodic reliance on external technical support.

Grenada continues to participate in "Tradewinds," a multinational exercise sponsored by US Southern Command. This exercise focuses on disaster response, maritime security, and counter-transnational organized crime. In 2025 and 2026, the RGPF has increased its focus on cybercrime capabilities, seeking to address vulnerabilities in national infrastructure and digital financial services. The state's security doctrine remains firmly rooted in regional multilateralism and the utilization of police-led paramilitary units for national defense tasks.