Editing The Bahamas (section)

===Armed forces===
{{Main|Royal Bahamas Defence Force}}

[[File:Hmbsnassau.jpg|thumb|left|{{HMBS|Nassau|P-61}}]]
The Bahamian military is the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF),<ref name="auto">{{Cite CIA World Factbook|country=Bahamas, The|year=2009}}</ref> the navy of the Bahamas which includes a land unit called Commando Squadron (Regiment) and an Air Wing (Air Force). Under the Defence Act, the RBDF has been mandated, in the name of the [[Charles III|king]], to defend the Bahamas, protect its territorial integrity, patrol its waters, provide assistance and relief in times of disaster, maintain order in conjunction with the law enforcement agencies of the Bahamas, and carry out any such duties as determined by the National Security Council.<ref>{{cite act|title=Defence Act|type=Act|page=211–14|date=1980}}</ref> The Defence Force is also a member of the Caribbean Community ([[Caricom|CARICOM]])'s Regional Security Task Force.<ref name="auto"/>

The RBDF came into existence on 31 March 1980. Its duties include defending the Bahamas, stopping [[Illegal drug trade|drug smuggling]], illegal immigration and poaching, and providing assistance to mariners. The Defence Force has a fleet of 26 coastal and inshore patrol craft along with 3 aircraft and over 1,100 personnel including 65 officers and 74 women.<ref>{{cite web|title=Our Mandat|url=https://rbdf.gov.bs/our-mandate/|website=rbdf.gov.bs|access-date=4 February 2021|archive-date=17 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210217002006/https://rbdf.gov.bs/our-mandate/|url-status=live}}</ref>