Military Overview

Nova Zemlya's international reputation is one of strident non-interventionism, and its military is quite small. That said, Nova Zemlya is cognizant of the need for a strong self-defense and deterrent against aggression, as well as the occasional need to project its influence through the use of force, and its isolationism precludes it from the patronage of states with larger defense forces upon which to rely. As a result, the Zemlyan armed forces are better funded than is typical for nations of its political persuasion.

The Zemlyan military is primarily considered a self-defense force, entirely volunteer-based and subordinate to civilian command. In conjunction with the country's strong natural defenses, Nova Zemlya has fortified a number of the barrier islands around the primary island, augmented by a powerful air force and geosynchronous satellite-based weaponry. The Zemlyans have also erected a gated sea wall near the mouth of the Golden Bay to protect the country both from naval invasion and flooding.

Non-defensive force projection is accomplished through the use of small, highly specialized special forces. Both these and the primary Zemlyan defenses are highly technologically advanced. The Nova Zemlya Advanced Defense Initiative is an executive agency responsible for all military R&D, contracting to private entities only for production purposes. NZADI also has a strong role in Nova Zemlya's space exploration agenda.