diff --git a/dcs/coalition.py b/dcs/coalition.py
index f5f541a3..f73854ed 100644
--- a/dcs/coalition.py
+++ b/dcs/coalition.py
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ def get_name(mission: "Mission", name: str) -> str:
         else:
             return name
 
-    def load_from_dict(self, mission, d) -> List[StatusMessage]:
+    def load_from_dict(self, mission, d, countries_in_coalition: Dict[int, int]) -> List[StatusMessage]:
         status: List[StatusMessage] = []
         for country_idx in d["country"]:
             imp_country = d["country"][country_idx]
@@ -257,6 +257,13 @@ def load_from_dict(self, mission, d) -> List[StatusMessage]:
                         static_group.add_unit(static)
                     _country.add_static_group(static_group)
             self.add_country(_country)
+
+        # iterate over all .miz countries in coalition, even without any units
+        # on the map, and add them to the respective coalition
+        for country_id in countries_in_coalition.values():
+            if self.country_by_id(country_id) is None:
+                self.add_country(countries.get_by_id(country_id))
+
         return status
 
     def set_bullseye(self, bulls):
diff --git a/dcs/mission.py b/dcs/mission.py
index da3832b6..0dd1341e 100644
--- a/dcs/mission.py
+++ b/dcs/mission.py
@@ -356,7 +356,8 @@ def loaddict(fname: str, mizfile: zipfile.ZipFile, reserved_files: List[str]) ->
         for col_name in ["blue", "red", "neutrals"]:
             if col_name in imp_mission["coalition"]:
                 self.coalition[col_name] = Coalition(col_name, imp_mission["coalition"][col_name]["bullseye"])
-                status += self.coalition[col_name].load_from_dict(self, imp_mission["coalition"][col_name])
+                status += self.coalition[col_name].load_from_dict(self, imp_mission["coalition"][col_name],
+                                                                  imp_mission["coalitions"][col_name])
 
         # triggers
         self.bypassed_triggers = None
@@ -2087,7 +2088,7 @@ def dict(self):
         col_blue = list(col_blue)
         col_red = list(col_red)
         m["coalitions"] = {
-            "neutral": {x + 1: col_neutral[x] for x in range(0, len(col_neutral))},
+            "neutrals": {x + 1: col_neutral[x] for x in range(0, len(col_neutral))},
             "blue": {x + 1: col_blue[x] for x in range(0, len(col_blue))},
             "red": {x + 1: col_red[x] for x in range(0, len(col_red))}
         }
diff --git a/tests/missions/countries-without-units-on-the-map.miz b/tests/missions/countries-without-units-on-the-map.miz
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..bac558fb
Binary files /dev/null and b/tests/missions/countries-without-units-on-the-map.miz differ
diff --git a/tests/test_mission.py b/tests/test_mission.py
index 275eca4e..c97b376c 100644
--- a/tests/test_mission.py
+++ b/tests/test_mission.py
@@ -1245,6 +1245,33 @@ def test_action_a_out_picture_u(self) -> None:
 
         self.assertEqual(m_action, m2.triggerrules.triggers[0].actions[5])
 
+    def test_empty_mission_with_coalitions(self) -> None:
+        m = dcs.mission.Mission()
+        m_filename = "tests/missions/countries-without-units-on-the-map.miz"
+        m.load_file(m_filename)
+
+        m_blue_countries = m.coalition['blue'].countries
+        for country in ["Australia", "UK", "USA", "USSR"]:
+            self.assertIn(country, m_blue_countries)
+        self.assertEqual(len(m.coalition['blue'].countries["UK"].plane_group), 1)
+
+        m_red_countries = m.coalition['red'].countries
+        for country in ["Third Reich", "Bulgaria", "Romania", "Finland"]:
+            self.assertIn(country, m_red_countries)
+
+        m2_miz_filename = "missions/saved.countries-without-units-on-the-map.miz"
+        m.save(m2_miz_filename)
+
+        m2 = dcs.mission.Mission()
+        m2.load_file(m2_miz_filename)
+        m2_blue_countries = m2.coalition['blue'].countries
+        m2_red_countries = m2.coalition['red'].countries
+        self.assertTrue(sorted(m_blue_countries.keys()), sorted(m2_blue_countries.keys()))
+        self.assertTrue(sorted(m_red_countries.keys()), sorted(m2_red_countries.keys()))
+        self.assertEqual(len(m.coalition['blue'].countries["UK"].plane_group),
+                         len(m2.coalition['blue'].countries["UK"].plane_group))
+
+
     def test_smoke_action_carpet_bombing(self) -> None:
 
         # this is fictional enum to simplify addressing as defined