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Only 22 countries have never experienced an invasion by the British, this select group of far-off destinations include Guatemala, Tajikistan and the Marshall Islands, as well as Luxembourg.
Only a small proportion of invaded states actually formed part of the empire. The British were found to have achieved military presence in the territory – either through force, the threat of force, negotiation or payment.
Incursions by British pirates, privateers or armed explorers have been included as they were operating with approval of the British government.
Among some of the surprising entries on the list are:
* Cuba, where in 1741, Admiral Edward Vernon stormed Guantánamo Bay before withdrawing in the face of hostile locals and disease among his men. 21 years later, Havana and a large part of the island fell to the British after a bloody siege, only to be handed back to the Spanish in 1763, along with the Philippines, in exchange for Florida and Minorca.
*Iceland, invaded in 1940 by the British after the neutral nation refused to enter the war on the Allies side.
* Vietnam, experienced repeated incursions by the British since the 7th century. From 1945 to 1946 – saw the British fight a campaign for control of the country against communists.
The countries never invaded by the British:
Andorra
Belarus
Bolivia
Burundi
Central African Republic
Chad
Congo, Republic of
Guatemala
Ivory Coast
Kyrgyzstan
Liechtenstein
Luxembourg
Mali
Marshall Islands
Monaco
Mongolia
Paraguay
Sao Tome and Principe
Sweden
Tajikistan
Uzbekistan
Vatican City
Only a small proportion of invaded states actually formed part of the empire. The British were found to have achieved military presence in the territory – either through force, the threat of force, negotiation or payment.
Incursions by British pirates, privateers or armed explorers have been included as they were operating with approval of the British government.
Among some of the surprising entries on the list are:
* Cuba, where in 1741, Admiral Edward Vernon stormed Guantánamo Bay before withdrawing in the face of hostile locals and disease among his men. 21 years later, Havana and a large part of the island fell to the British after a bloody siege, only to be handed back to the Spanish in 1763, along with the Philippines, in exchange for Florida and Minorca.
*Iceland, invaded in 1940 by the British after the neutral nation refused to enter the war on the Allies side.
* Vietnam, experienced repeated incursions by the British since the 7th century. From 1945 to 1946 – saw the British fight a campaign for control of the country against communists.
The countries never invaded by the British:
Andorra
Belarus
Bolivia
Burundi
Central African Republic
Chad
Congo, Republic of
Guatemala
Ivory Coast
Kyrgyzstan
Liechtenstein
Luxembourg
Mali
Marshall Islands
Monaco
Mongolia
Paraguay
Sao Tome and Principe
Sweden
Tajikistan
Uzbekistan
Vatican City
