Antigua and Barbuda

Brief history
The small island of Antigua was explored by Columbus in 1493 and named for the Church of Santa Maria La Antigua. Antigua was colonized by Britain in 1632, while Barbuda island was first colonised in 1678. Having been part of the Federal Colony of the Leeward Islands from 1871, Antigua and Barbuda joined the West Indies Federation in 1958. With the breakup of the federation, it became one of the West Indies Associated States in 1967. Following self-governance in its internal affairs, independence was granted from the United Kingdom on 1 November 1981.

Brief history
The Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force (ABDF) is tasked with internal and external security of the twin-island nation. Antigua and Barbuda is one of the founder members of the Regional Security System (RSS), consisting of seven independent Eastern Caribbean states. The ABDF consists of a land branch (the regiment), a maritime branch (the coast guard) and, since February 2022, an aviation branch (the air wing). It currently operates one Britten Norman BN-2 Islander for patrol and liaision missions, which is based at St. John's - V.C. Bird International Airport.