Editing Uruguay (section)

=== Military ===
{{Main|Military of Uruguay}}

{{Multiple image
| direction         = vertical
| caption_align     = center
| image1            = R.O.C Marine Corps M41A3 Walker Bulldog front view.jpg
| caption1          = Uruguayan Army [[M41 Walker Bulldog]] light tank monument
| image2            = Formación A-37B Fuerza Aérea Uruguaya.jpg
| caption2          = Two [[Cessna A-37 Dragonfly]] of the [[Uruguayan Air Force|Air Force]] during a flypast
}}

The [[Armed Forces of Uruguay|Uruguayan Armed Forces]] are constitutionally subordinate to the president of the Republic, through the minister of defense.<ref name="dept-state" /> Armed forces personnel number about 18,000 for the Army,<ref>{{Cite news |date=2015-10-22 |title=Para Jefe del Ejército, número de efectivos está en "nivel crítico" |trans-title=For the Army Chief, the number of personnel is at a "critical level" |url=https://www.elpais.com.uy/informacion/para-jefe-del-ejercito-numero-de-efectivos-esta-en-nivel-critico |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231210105836/https://www.elpais.com.uy/informacion/para-jefe-del-ejercito-numero-de-efectivos-esta-en-nivel-critico |archive-date=10 December 2023 |access-date=2024-05-05 |work=Diario El País |language=en}}</ref> 6,000 for the [[National Navy of Uruguay|Navy]], and 3,000 for the [[Uruguayan Air Force|Air Force]].<ref name="dept-state" /> Enlistment is voluntary in peacetime, but the government has the authority to conscript in emergencies.<ref name="CIA" />

Uruguay ranks first in the world on a per capita basis for its contributions to the [[United Nations peacekeeping]] forces, with 2,513 soldiers and officers in 10 UN [[peacekeeping]] missions.<ref name="dept-state"/> As of February 2010, Uruguay had 1,136 military personnel deployed to Haiti in support of [[MINUSTAH]] and 1,360 deployed in support of [[MONUC]] in the Congo.<ref name="dept-state"/> In December 2010, Uruguayan Major General Gloodtdofsky, was appointed Chief Military Observer and head of the [[United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.mercopress.com/2010/12/23/uruguayan-major-general-appointed-head-of-un-mission-in-india-and-pakistan|title=Uruguayan Major General appointed head of UN mission in India and Pakistan|date=23 December 2010|publisher=MercoPress|access-date=23 February 2011|archive-date=28 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101228135451/http://en.mercopress.com/2010/12/23/uruguayan-major-general-appointed-head-of-un-mission-in-india-and-pakistan|url-status=live}}</ref>

Since May 2009, homosexuals have been allowed to serve in the military after the defense minister signed a decree stating that military recruitment policy would no longer discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation.<ref>[https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/13/uruguay-to-lift-ban-on-ga_n_203004.html Uruguay To Lift Ban On Gays In The Military] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304035552/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/13/uruguay-to-lift-ban-on-ga_n_203004.html|date=4 March 2016}}. Huffingtonpost.com (13 May 2009). Retrieved on 25 June 2012.</ref> In the fiscal year 2010, the United States provided Uruguay with $1.7&nbsp;million in military assistance, including $1&nbsp;million in [[Foreign Military Financing]] and $480,000 in [[International Military Education and Training]].<ref name="cong-r" />