The British Empire, renowned as one of history’s largest empires, embarked on conquests and colonizations across numerous nations worldwide.
Nevertheless, there exists a select group of countries that remained untouched by UK invasion, with several factors contributing to this historical quirk.
Some of these uninvaded nations were nestled in remote, challenging-to-access regions. Take, for instance, Andorra, a diminutive country ensconced amidst the Pyrenees Mountains, nestled between France and Spain. The rugged terrain made it an impractical target for British expansion.
In certain cases, powerful allies shielded these untouched nations from British encroachment. Sweden, for instance, enjoyed alliances with France and Russia, two of Europe’s preeminent powers during that era. The British would have been wary of provoking conflict with such formidable adversaries had they contemplated an invasion of Sweden.
Furthermore, some countries were simply deemed not worth the effort of invading. The Marshall Islands, a cluster of small Pacific Ocean islands, possessed neither significant natural resources nor a substantial population. From a strategic standpoint, an invasion of the Marshall Islands offered minimal gain, making it an unattractive prospect for the British.
The roster of countries that escaped British conquest includes:
Andorra
Belarus
Bolivia
Burundi
Central African Republic
Chad
Ivory Coast
Kyrgyzstan
Liechtenstein
Mali
Marshall Islands
Monaco
Mongolia
Paraguay
Sao Tome and Principe
Sweden
Tajikistan
Uzbekistan
Vatican City
These nations stand as unique exceptions in the vast tapestry of UK imperial history, unburdened by the weight of colonization and conquest.
