When I worked in Liechtenstein I heard a funny story. It was said that in WW1 Liechtenstein sent 100 men off to fight in the war. No only did none of them die, but one made a friend who came back to live in Liechtenstein, so the only country to have gained men during the war rather than lost them.

“Oh honey. Other nations are too big for me. Your microstate is perfect for me. “

Swear Peter made this video just to flex on us that he’s in Monaco for lunch and we’re not 😂

Micro States that mattered: Malta in WWII. The defense was epic. Other suggestions?

Ok, I have to admit that is a cool backdrop!

“It’s not the size of the state that matters, it’s how you use it.” 😂

Microstates really don’t play a role… Laughs in Vatican😂😂😂😂

Many of the semi-independent ones are tax and money-laundering havens, especially the British-owned Islands that are not technically part of the UK, such as the Anglo-Norman Islands, Mann, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands. The are one of the reasons the City of London is such an important financial centre.

Had the luck to visit San Marino in my time through Italy and it is an absolutely magical place. To hear that Russia is using it for their usual slimy subterfuge breaks my heart, Russia ruins all it touches

Peter's carbon footprint must be huge 😂

I see parallels to Delaware, Singapore and some Caribbean / Pacific islands.

I'm thinking that the Vatican is even smaller than Monaco, but somebody might have to fact check that. Microstates are also useful for places like Taiwan, who can get a vote in the UN. The dwindling list of countries that have relations with Taipei are all very tiny (like the Vatican).

Hey Peter, could you do a similar video on landlocked states?

For me Russia had always been synonymous with alcoholism, gangsterism and violence, general poor performance is the latest addition to that.

does singapore count? an amazing microstate with very high standard of living.

I hope you enjoyed your trip, PZ. I've been through Monaco [non-stop], but I don't gamble and it's too rich for my blood. I much preferred Marseilles. I had dinner in Liechtenstein, Käsespätzle is heavy and definitely an acquired taste; unfortunately the castle was off limits to tourists. San Marino was a very expensive tourist trap where they gouge tourists even on postage stamps, so I neither ate nor bought anything. Andorra was better, but still a tourist trap. Being between Spain and France, jointly administered by both [sort of], the food and beverage were excellent and the accommodations good. Needles to say I spent one holiday visiting small countries. Luxembourg is very interesting. I heard conversations in which three languages were being spoken. The stamps were not treated like souvenirs and when I asked if the postal official would prefer my native English or my poor high school German he chose the latter. I remember the accommodations, food and wine being good but they became very pricey by my last trip when the exchange rate was against the US Dollar.

Favorite lunch in Italy? Mine is caprice salad … oh those tomatoes with basil and olive oil with mozzarella and prosciutto

Zeihan is always on location somewhere, and I have no doubt he is actually physically in Monaco, however this video was filmed using a green screen or a video filter of a background. Maybe he wanted to be physicaly outside but didn't have time between conference calls

The Vatican (Vatican City) is, I believe, 1 square mile, but has a HUGE role to play in international affairs

Absolutely hideous location. I'm sorry you had to go through that. I volunteer to go next time in your stead. No need to thank me, just looking out for you.

I want his frequent flyer miles.

Malta, another microstate, is a shelter for lots of russian oligarchs and diplomats. All you need is to invest around 700k EUR in real estate and you are granted Maltese citizenship.

Thank you for the information.

0:07 Money laundering aka offshore paradise also applies to small states like Luxembourg or Cyprus or Gibraltar

I stayed in Lichtenstein and they are no joke

Absolutely love your videos.

This is so crazy because I was JUST starting to drive to San Marino as part of my vacation.

Always Fascinating Insights!!!

One way a microstate could potentially be advantageous is as a mediator. If two countries are having an issue a microstate is the perfect mediator as it has zero dog in the fight.

Micro-states are easily annexed by larger empires if they are not vassal states. They are merely competent enough to really matter on the global scale because of the measly land mass.

Stamped in Luxembourg, but Lichtenstein

Peter, talk about Switzerland next... I'd really like to hear about my country for once and I really need a good laugh too 😂

Greetings from the same hill!

It saddens me to know that the Serene Republic of San Marino is letting itself be used that way. I understood that the smallest micro state was the Sovereign Military Order of Malta which occupies a single building in Rome. But, I guess, it is technically not a state. Which would make Vatican City the smallest state.

1:37 San Marino is awesome. Lots of Russian menus there and in Remini too

Funny thing is, It's aligned with PolandBall's San marino meme

Liechtenstein isn't really on a mountain pass. The southeast of the country is mountainous but the north and west are rather flat, part of the Rhine valley. An important railway and road between Austria and Switzerland does go through Liechtenstein, but it's not as if they could block anything: if they did there was still the possibility to go around the country. This is just a small principality that managed never to get absorbed by the nation states forming to all sides. They officially use the Swiss Franc but accept Euros in all shops.

Google mapped San Marino. East of Florence but surprised to find it not to be an island nor on the coast. Noticed an odd looking layout in the "downtown" area. Suspected a river, but the 3D version of the map shows a very cool looking "cliff". 🙂 Couldn't make out any spies.

*Highly recommend the TV Show “The Americans” if you’re into geopolitics and spy craft*

Hiw much was your wonderful sandwich in Monaco? Over/Under is at $50.00

I concur, Monaco is a good lunch spot.

Betteridge's law of headlines says that the answer to your question is "No". :)

Great place to have lunch if you're not paying 😂

I never managed to walk around Liechtenstein, I am not a good climber and from the river Rhine there is a massive wall to climb up to the summit to walk to the mountain side of the Border to Austria.

Singapore seems like a pretty important micro-state….

Meirsheimer and Zeihan are THE two titans of geopolitics from my perspective. I don't agree with either of them on everything, but I agree with both of them on the majority of what they speak on. One topic they disagree on and I'm really unsure who is correct is Russia's desire to pursue more land grabs if they are successful in Ukraine. I want Peter to do a whole 5-10 minute episode dedicated to explaining why Russia will invade Poland etc if they take Ukraine. Logic does say if they did it and it worked on X country then why not also try it on Y country. However, I can't see the Russian people going along with it. Putin convinced enough with his propaganda campaign about nazis in Ukraine, but I feel like he has to know the Russian people will hit a breaking point if he goes after another country, especially with the catastrophic casualties.

Elephant in the room - Hong Kong!

Micro-states can be useful for certain diplomatic channels like that, but always have to weigh against it the fact that if they're too bold, their neighbor(s) can just annex them. Luckily for them, the current global consensus is pretty anti-annex, and I'm sure the EU would throw a fit if Italy annexed San Marino, but it's always a looming threat.

That's what she said

Peter, can you cover the latest GOP floating of replacing all US income taxes with tariffs/duties. Some very small countries (considered micro-states?) utilize this taxation technique, however I believe in the US, it would be a precursor to the next Great Depression.

Andorra, all those island nations in the Pacific, other places...

Does Singapore count as a micro-state? They could count as important also.

So the next thing you know is that the barman in San Marino or Restaurant "Sommelier" in Monaco, both with some "Eastern European" passport was, prior to 2022, some kind of "Deep Asset" somewhere else in Europe 🙂

Singapore should be an interesting one. They actually matter quite a bit on the world scene

"It's also, I can say this with authority, creeply state launch"?

Why San Marino why!!!! Oh yeah Andorra declared war on Germany in WW I. It was left out of the peace accords. Technically it remained AT WAR with Germany until 1958.

Worst with micro states in europe is driving there. It’s like Mario Cart in real life…

What! No cat overlord?

San Marino seems easily defendable by standards of a few centuries ago

Chihuahua barks a lot. Everyone is nice to it. So cute, they say. Or, is everyone nice to the hand that holds the leash to the Chihuahua?

didn't think I would ever witness Peter Zeihan use gamer lingo like "aggroed"

Didnt talk about the money laundering and tax avoidance. Truely the only reason states like those exist.

Please do an episode about the south china sea

Nah its all about the motion of your ocean. Sad for the countries that are all dry 😅

Peter been playing Civ6 while on holiday?

It's not the size of the island country that maters, it's the motion of the ocean.

Peter channeling Jeff Richelson (yep, I'm that old...), this was an interesting tidbit for those of us who hung around the subterranean subtleties of the cold war -- hmmmm....

We're now referring to actual states as microstates? I thought we were using that term for unrecognized quasi-"states" setup for marketing or other business purposes, like SeaLand or LunarEmbassy.

next up Luxemburg

Micro States in europe are the best when it’s time to fill up the gas tank in the car.

short video for small states

Check the box. Breakfast eligible for tax write-off.

Liechtenstein is most famous for being the home and HQ of Hilti power tools

I told my son, ONLY in subwoofers 😉🤭

Its width that matters, not length. *sorry, Chile.🤷‍♂️

Tldr: Size Matters

Has San Marino moved?

Nice background.

My guy makes a video after the airport, and then sharing the next day, after the airport

That's green screen behind him. I think his nose is getting longer.

Can not have a spy ring if everyone knows about the spy ring .

Imagine being Italy fighting cartels out of your state tooth and nail only for monaco to mill EU paperwork like the past few years never happened 🤦

Speaking of micro-states with outsized influence, any fans of Grand Fenwyck here?

No, but technique does.

Peter❤

The long answer is yes.

Size does matter, especially if the country is a peninsula.

I would argue, economic (!) size matters. That’s why the Netherlands (small country) have more to say as for example Zambia. At least, that’s what the Dutch like to think 😂

someone's been watching Map Men ;-)

The Italians should realize the signals intelligence gold mine that something as large as Russian intelligence in Europe is being run out of such a concentrated footprint as a micro national

My ex said size did matter though...

It's a Great looking cliff line in the background 👌

What a saucy title...

Thanks Peter

Considering the amount of business Singapore is hoovering up from Hong Kong following Zero Covid and Beijing's destruction of the Basic Law era practices, I'd say yeah some Micro-States are going to have more sway over certain sectors than countries 1000 times their size.

Monaco has great casinos and the food not bad either 😮

Andorra is the best one 🇦🇩

Seborga anyone?

Good, the treaties should be re-evaluated if they will help Russia

Video length: pi 😅