The Svalbard Threat

6 February 2007, 0454 EST

Artist’s rendition of the Svalbard Air, Nuclear, Land, Sea, and Polar Bear Forces

Can someone explain to me why the CIA World Factbook lists Svalbard as ranking 22nd in military defense expenditures (at $ 5,501,000,000)?

Most of the sources I can find seem to agree that Svalbard, a territory of Norway, was demilitarized as part of the 1920 Paris Treaty.

I’m not the only one to have noticed this, of course.

Is someone at the Agency a Pullman fan?

Proof

Image Sources:
https://static.flickr.com/14/15515254_5f2b21d623.jpg
https://www.dla.mil/j-3/j-334/
https://img.pro-g.co.uk/images/pub/large/golden_compass.jpg