Editing Demilitarized zone

{{Short description|Area in which agreements between military powers forbid military activities}}
{{Redirect|DMZ}}
{{More citations needed|date=December 2011}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
[[File:20120416 WN C1022490 0002 - Flickr - NZ Defence Force.jpg|thumb|240px|The mission of [[United Nations Command Military Armistice Commission|UNCMAC]] is to supervise the [[Korean Armistice Agreement|Military Armistice Agreement]] between the two Koreas along the 151 mile [[Korean Demilitarized Zone|Demilitarized Zone]] (DMZ).]]
A '''demilitarized zone''' ('''DMZ''' or '''DZ''')<ref>{{cite book|last1=Oren|first1=Michael|title=Six Days of War: June 1967 and the Making of the Modern Middle East|date=3 June 2003|publisher=Presidio Press|isbn=978-0345461926|page=7}}<!--|access-date=28 August 2014--></ref> 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 {{convert|14|km|mi|abbr=on}} wide [[Iraq-Kuwait barrier|area between Iraq and Kuwait]]; [[Politics of Antarctica|Antarctica]] (preserved for scientific exploration and study); and [[Politics of outer space|outer space]] (space more than {{convert|100|km|mi|disp=or|abbr=on}} from the Earth's surface).

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.

Several demilitarized zones have also unintentionally become [[wildlife preserve]]s because their land is unsafe for construction or less exposed to human disturbances (including hunting). Examples include the [[Korean Demilitarized Zone]], the [[United Nations Buffer Zone in Cyprus|Cypriot Demilitarized Zone]] (the Green Line), and the former [[Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone]] which divided Vietnam into two countries ([[North Vietnam]] and [[South Vietnam]]) from 21 July 1954 to 2 July 1976.

=={{anchor|Current demilitarized (mostly neutral) zones}}Current demilitarized zones==
[[File:Korean dmz map.png|thumb|The [[Korean Demilitarized Zone]] incorporates territory on both sides of the [[Korean Armistice Agreement|ceasefire line]] as it existed at the end of the [[Korean War]] (1950–53).]]
[[File:Cyprus districts named.png|thumb|The [[United Nations Buffer Zone in Cyprus|UN Buffer Zone in Cyprus]] marks the southernmost points that the Turkish troops occupied during the [[Turkish invasion of Cyprus]] in August 1974.]]
* [[Antarctica]]&nbsp;– The [[Antarctic Treaty System|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".<ref>{{citation |work=[[Antarctic Treaty]] |year=1959 |title=art. 1}}</ref>
* [[Joint Control Commission]]&nbsp;– 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.
* [[Korean Demilitarized Zone]]&nbsp;– The [[Korean Armistice Agreement]] created a 4&nbsp;km (2.5&nbsp;mi)-wide demilitarized zone between [[North Korea]] and [[South Korea]] following the [[Korean War]].<ref>{{citation |work=[[Korean Armistice Agreement]] |year=1953 |title=art. 1}}</ref> It is currently one of the most heavily militarized areas in the world despite the name.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2011/06/24/the-worlds-most-dangerous-borders/ |title=The world's most dangerous borders |first=Philip |last=Walker |magazine=Foreign Policy |date=24 June 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170308153821/http://foreignpolicy.com/2011/06/24/the-worlds-most-dangerous-borders/ |archive-date=8 March 2017 }}</ref>
* [[Kuwait–Iraq barrier]]&nbsp;– The [[United Nations Security Council]] approved the creation of a demilitarized zone between [[Iraq]] and [[Kuwait]] in [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 689|Resolution 689]] after the [[Gulf War|Persian Gulf War]]. Although the demilitarized zone is no longer mandated by the council, it continues to exist.
* [[Martín García Island]]&nbsp;– An Argentine island surrounded by [[Uruguayan]] waters of the [[Río de la Plata]], according to the 45th article of the [[1973 Boundary Treaty between Uruguay and Argentina|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.
* [[Preah Vihear Temple]]&nbsp;– The [[International Court of Justice]] had ordered the creation of a "provisional demilitarized zone" around the Temple whose ownership [[Cambodian–Thai border dispute|is claimed]] by both [[Cambodia]] and [[Thailand]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/files/151/16564.pdf |title=Request for Interpretation of the Judgment of 15 June 1962 in the Case concerning the Temple of Preah Vihear (''Cambodia v. Thailand'') |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017164648/http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/files/151/16564.pdf |archive-date=17 October 2013 |date=18 July 2011 |work=[[International Court of Justice]] |access-date=9 October 2018}}</ref>
* [[Sinai Peninsula]]&nbsp;– 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 {{convert|20|-|40|km|abbr=off}} of [[Israel]]. Israel also agreed to limit its forces within {{convert|3|km|abbr=off}} of the Egyptian border.<ref name=MFA>[http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Peace%20Process/Guide%20to%20the%20Peace%20Process/Camp%20David%20Accords Camp David Accords&nbsp;– Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110903011255/http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Peace%20Process/Guide%20to%20the%20Peace%20Process/Camp%20David%20Accords |date=3 September 2011 }}</ref> The areas are monitored by the [[Multinational Force and Observers]].<ref name="10TAGpgA-1">10 Tactical Air Group: ''Canadian Contingent Multinational Force and Observers Handbook'' (unclassified), page A-1. DND, Ottawa, 1986.</ref> 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.<ref name=jpost120809>{{cite news|last=Keinon|first=Herb|url=http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Israel-OKs-Egypt-attack-helicopters-in-Sinai|title=Israel OKs Egypt attack helicopters in Sinai|newspaper=Jerusalem Post|date=9 August 2012}}</ref><ref name=haaretz120816>{{cite news|last=Issacharoff|first=Avi|title=Egypt deployed troops in Sinai without Israel's prior approval|url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/egypt-deployed-troops-in-sinai-without-israel-s-prior-approval-1.458511|access-date=24 August 2012|newspaper=Haaretz|date=16 August 2012}}</ref><ref name=jpost131029>{{cite news|last=Keinon|first=Herb|title=Int'l force in Sinai quiet amid concern of violations|url=http://www.jpost.com/Diplomacy-and-Politics/Intl-force-in-Sinai-quiet-amid-concern-of-violations|access-date=29 October 2013|newspaper=Jerusalem Post|date=21 August 2012}}</ref><ref name=jpost130715>{{cite news|url=http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Israel-approves-Egypts-request-to-increase-forces-in-Sinai-319907|title=Israel approves Egypt's request to increase forces in Sinai|newspaper=Jerusalem Post|date=15 July 2013}}</ref>
* [[Sudan]]&nbsp;– A {{convert|6|mi|km|0|abbr=on|order=flip}} demilitarized zone along the [[Sudan]] – [[South Sudan]] border.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-13603232 |title=Sudan agrees demilitarised zone for north-south border |publisher=[[BBC]] |date=31 May 2011 |access-date=24 October 2015 |work=[[BBC News]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2013/03/08/world/africa/sudan-south-sudan-agreement/ |title=Sudan, South Sudan agree to pull troops from demilitarized zone |first1=Amir |last1=Ahmed |first2=Greg |last2=Botelho |publisher=[[Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.]] |date=9 March 2013 |access-date=24 October 2015 |work=[[Cable News Network]]}}</ref>
* [[United Nations Buffer Zone in Cyprus]]&nbsp;– The United Nations Security Council created a buffer zone separating the self-proclaimed, internationally unrecognized [[Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus]] from the [[Cyprus|Republic of Cyprus]]. It was authorized by [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 186|Resolution 186]] and is patrolled by the [[United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus]].
* [[United Nations Disengagement Observer Force#UNDOF Zone|United Nations Disengagement Observer Force Zone]]&nbsp;– The United Nations Security Council approved the creation of a demilitarized zone in a portion of the [[Israel]]i-[[Israeli-occupied territories|occupied territory]] of the [[Golan Heights]] in [[Syria]] in [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 350|Resolution 350]] after the [[Yom Kippur War]]. The zone is monitored by the [[United Nations Disengagement Observer Force]].
* [[Åland]]&nbsp;– The [[Åland convention|Åland Convention of 1921]], which was concluded following a decision of the [[League of Nations]] in response to the [[Åland crisis]], mandates that the [[Finland|Finnish]] government maintain the territory as a demilitarized area.

==Former demilitarized zones==
[[File:Gibraltar map.png|thumb|right|alt=Old map of the Gibraltar peninsula|Historical map of the [[promontory]] of Gibraltar.]]
[[File:DMZ1.jpg|250px|thumb|alt=Map of the demilitarized zone between North and South Vietnam|The [[Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone]] separating [[North Vietnam|North]] and [[South Vietnam]] in 1969]]

* A neutral territory was established between the [[British Overseas Territories|British Overseas Territory]] of [[Gibraltar]] and [[Spain]] after the end of the [[Thirteenth siege of Gibraltar|1727 siege]]. A strip of land 600 [[toise]]s (about {{convert|1.2|km|mi|frac=8|abbr=on|disp=or}}) long,{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}} 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 [[Disputed status of the isthmus between Gibraltar and 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.
*[[Rhineland]] – The [[Treaty of Versailles]] designated the Rhineland as a demilitarized zone after [[World War I]], prohibiting the [[Weimar Republic]] from deploying its [[Reichswehr|military]] there. It was [[Remilitarization of the Rhineland|re-occupied and re-militarized]] in 1936 by [[Nazi Germany]] in violation of international treaties.
*[[Saudi–Iraqi neutral zone]] – The Uqair Protocol established a demilitarized zone between the [[Sultanate of Nejd]] and the [[Kingdom of Iraq]], which at the time was a [[League of Nations mandate]] administered by the [[British Empire]]. Nejd was later incorporated into the [[Saudi Arabia|Kingdom of Saudi Arabia]]. The zone was partitioned in 1981 but the treaty was not filed with the [[United Nations]]. The zone was finally officially abolished during the [[Gulf War|Persian Gulf War]], when Iraq and Saudi Arabia cancelled all international agreements with each other. 
*[[Saudi–Kuwaiti neutral zone]] – The Uqair Protocol established a neutral zone between the Sultanate of Nejd and the [[British protectorate]] of [[Kuwait]] in 1922. It was partitioned by mutual agreement in 1970.
*Israel and Egypt:
**Following the [[1948 Arab–Israeli War]], a DMZ (the [[El Auja Zone]]) was created by the [[1949 Armistice Agreements]] between Israel and Egypt.
*Israel and Jordan:
**The Israeli enclave and Jordanian area on [[Mount Scopus#Modern era|Mt. Scopus]] was designated as a DMZ.
**The area around the [[Latrun]] salient.
*Israel and Syria: Following the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, three DMZs were created by the [[1949 Armistice Agreements]] between Israel and Syria.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.passia.org/palestine_facts/MAPS/newpdf/Israel-Syria-demilitarized.pdf |title=Palestine Maps |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060215180052/http://www.passia.org/palestine_facts/MAPS/newpdf/Israel-Syria-demilitarized.pdf |archive-date=15 February 2006 |access-date=9 October 2018 |work=[[Palestinian Academic Society for the Study of International Affairs]]}}</ref>
*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 [[Pacific War|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 [[Ecuadorian–Peruvian War|war]] between Ecuador and [[Peru]], which existed under [[Ecuador]]ian administration and under the observation of neutral mediator nations: the United States, Brazil and Argentina.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Estudio de la cuestión de límites entre el Perú y el Ecuador|publisher=[[Ministry of Defense (Peru)|Ministry of War of Peru]]|year=1961|location=Peru|pages=71–72|language=Spanish}}</ref> The DMZ was abolished in 1942, with the withdrawal of [[Peruvian occupation of Ecuador|Peruvian forces]] from [[El Oro Province]] after the signing of the [[Rio Protocol]].
*[[Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone]] – The demilitarized zone between [[North Vietnam]] and [[South Vietnam]] was established in July 1954 as a result of the [[Geneva Conference (1954)|Geneva Conference]] ending the war between the [[Viet Minh]] and [[France]]. The DMZ in Vietnam officially lay at the [[17th parallel north|17th parallel]] and ended in 1976; in reality, it extended about {{cvt|1|mi|km|0|order=flip}} on either side of the [[Bến Hải River]] and west to east from the [[Laos|Lao]] border to the [[South China Sea]].
*Norway and Sweden established a demilitarized zone of 1&nbsp;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.
*[[El Caguán DMZ]] – A demilitarized zone was established in southern [[Colombia]] between 1999 and 2002, during the failed [[1999–2002 FARC–Government peace process|peace process]] that involved the Government of [[President of Colombia|President]] [[Andrés Pastrana]] and the [[Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia]] (FARC).[[File:U.S. and Turkish military forces conduct second joint ground patrol inside of the security mechanism in northeast Syria.jpg|thumb|Turkish and American soldiers provide security for a joint ground patrol in the [[Northern Syria Buffer Zone]], 24 September 2019]]
*[[Northern Syria Buffer Zone]]&nbsp;– A {{convert|115|km|abbr=on}} 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 [[Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria|Kurdish]] and Turkish forces.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/news/fff9400a-a0b3-4ff4-be05-e18d00a046cf|title=US and Turkey reach accord, but concerns of Syrian Kurds continue |last=Kurdistan24|website=Kurdistan24|language=en|access-date=2019-08-25}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/turkey-launches-assault-on-kurdish-fighters-in-syria-after-us-forces-step-aside/|title=Turkey launches assault on Kurdish fighters in Syria, after US forces step aside |last1=Pitarakis |first1=Lefteris |last2=Mroue |first2=Bassem |website=www.timesofisrael.com |language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-09}}</ref>
*[[Ground Safety Zone]]&nbsp;– A {{convert|5|km|mi|adj=mid|-wide}} demilitarized area between [[FR Yugoslavia]] and [[Kosovo]] was created under the [[Kumanovo Agreement]] following the [[Kosovo War]] that existed between 1999 and 2001. Following the [[Insurgency in the Preševo Valley]], Serbian forces were allowed to enter GSZ.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ground Safety Zone (GSZ): Time out for rebel strong hold – Serbia|url=https://reliefweb.int/report/serbia/ground-safety-zone-gsz-time-out-rebel-strong-hold|access-date=2021-10-14|website=ReliefWeb|date=June 2001 |language=en}}</ref> 
* [[Idlib demilitarization (2018–present)|Idlib demilitarization agreement zone]]&nbsp;– A {{convert|15|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} demilitarized zone, created by agreement between [[Russia]]n and [[Turkey|Turkish]] government, splitting the last major stronghold of the [[Syrian opposition to Bashar al-Assad|Syrian rebels]] from the [[Syria|Syrian government]] controlled area amidst the [[Syrian Civil War]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-turkey-russia-syria-20180917-story,amp.html |title=Turkey, Russia agree on demilitarized zone in Syria's Idlib region |first=Jim |last=Heintz |date=17 September 2018 |access-date=9 October 2018 |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181008203352/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-turkey-russia-syria-20180917-story,amp.html |archive-date=8 October 2018}}</ref>

==See also==
{{commons}}
*[[Buffer Zone]]
*[[Ceasefire]]
*[[Demilitarisation]]
*[[Demarcation line]]
*[[DMZ (computing)]]
*[[Green Zone|Green zone]]
*[[Humanitarian corridor]]
*[[List of established military terms]]
*[[No-fly zone]]
*[[Safe Zone (Syria)]]
*[[UNIKOM]]
* [[United Nations Safe Areas]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Demilitarized Zone}}
[[Category:Military terminology]]
[[Category:Demilitarized zones| ]]