The correct answer is (b). Armed forces are not an essential element of a state in international law.
The Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States, which is a multilateral treaty adopted in 1933, sets out the four essential elements of a state in international law:
- a permanent population;
- a defined territory;
- a government;
- and the capacity to enter into relations with other states.
Armed forces are not explicitly mentioned in the Montevideo Convention, and there is no consensus among international lawyers on whether they are an essential element of statehood. Some argue that armed forces are necessary to protect a state’s territory and population, while others argue that they are not essential if a state can otherwise defend itself.
In practice, there are a number of states that do not have armed forces, including Costa Rica, Iceland, and Mauritius. These states have been able to maintain their independence and sovereignty without armed forces, and they have been recognized as states by other states.
Therefore, the correct answer to the question “Which one of the following is not an essential elements of a State in international law?” is (b). Armed forces.