Access to maritime trade routes has always been considered one of the main features of a powerful state. Almost the majority of all wars in the history of mankind went for access to the coastline. With the development of technology and a change in the transport structure, tensions between states due to the lack of access to the sea have significantly weakened, and landlocked states do not feel isolated. In addition, the Convention on the Law of the Sea guarantees all states the right to have their own fleet and use the waters of the oceans. As a rule, countries that do not have their own access to the sea sell the right to use their flag to commercial shipping companies, which thus save on taxes in developed countries. For states selling this right, such proceeds are often of great help.
The UN is on guard
International treaties, the UN Charter and shipping declarations equalize all states in the right to use the resources of the open ocean, but this does not relieve them of the need to conclude separate agreements on the right to use the ports of neighboring states without access to the sea.
Landlocked states are located on four continents. Moreover, most of these countries are in Africa. Here is a list of them:
- Botswana;
- Burkina Faso (formerly known as Upper Volta);
- Burundi;
- Republic of Zambia;
- Republic of Zimbabwe;
- Kingdom of Lesotho;
- Republic of Malawi;
- Mali
- Republic of Niger;
- Republic of Rwanda
- Kingdom of Swaziland;
- Uganda;
- Central African Republic;
- Chad;
- Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
All African landlocked countries fall into the category of developing countries according to the UN classification and have serious problems with the living standards of the population. Obviously, the lack of access to the main transport arteries also affects their well-being.
In 2011, as a result of a referendum, the southern provinces that partially inherited the name from the past state were separated from Sudan, which has ports on the Red Sea. Landlocked states have become one more. However, the wealth of oil fields allows us to hope for an early restoration of South Sudan after a conflict with its northern neighbor. The government has joined the East African Union, which will simplify access to transport routes.
The largest landlocked states are located in Africa - Ethiopia, with a population of 93 million, and Uganda with a population of 34 million.
Ethiopia had its ports on the Red Sea until 1993, however, after the referendum and separation of Eritrea, it lost the status of a sea power. It is worth noting here that for Eritrea, access to one of the most transportally important seas was completely useless. The country produces almost no products, and the government is so corrupt that most of the population prefers to flee to Europe through the Mediterranean Sea, risking their lives.
Which landlocked state in South America?
On the South American continent, despite the enormous length of the coastline, there are two states deprived of their own seaports.
Bolivia lost its coastal territory in 1883, when Chilean troops, supported by Britain, annexed the provinces of Arica and Tarapaca, which contained strategically important deposits of nitrate. Since then, the country has been deprived of access to the sea until 2010, in which an agreement was signed between Bolivia and Peru, providing for the lease of a small plot for the construction of the Bolivian port. In addition, Bolivia is the only state that has no access to the sea, but with its own naval forces.
The second country without its own sea coast is Paraguay, which is located in the very center of the continent. He never claimed access to the sea. Most of the country is arid lands, the smaller - dense tropical forests. However, Paraguay has one significant advantage over other states without seaports. Through the whole country flows the second largest river of the continent - Parana, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean. Although ocean shipping is only possible in the lower reaches at a distance of 640 km from the ocean, small vessels and boats can be used in the middle reaches.
Which state is landlocked in Europe?
There are 16. such countries in Europe. Like all other countries of the continent, they have a long and difficult history of the struggle for access to the seas. Despite the fact that all these battles were lost by them, in the framework of the concept of a united and peaceful Europe, this shortcoming is not felt so sharply.
Here are the landlocked European states:
- Austria;
- Kingdom of Andorra;
- Republic of Belarus;
- Vatican;
- Hungary (uses the ports of Croatia on the Adriatic Sea);
- Kosovo;
- Principality of Liechtenstein ;
- Grand Duchy of Luxembourg;
- Moldova;
- San Marino
- Serbia
- Slovakia;
- Czech;
- Swiss Confederation.
Peaceful coexistence and good neighborliness principles allow European countries to interact at an extremely high level. For example, the Czech Republic has an agreement with Poland on the use of the port of Szczecin.
Anhydrous Central Asia
Many landlocked Asian states are located in the CIS. The republics of the former USSR lost access to the sea due to independence. At the same time, Russia made a commitment to provide access to its deep-sea transport system to countries with access to the Caspian Sea. This allows Iran, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan to navigate their vessels to the Baltic and Black Seas. Such a passage is possible thanks to a complex system of canals and waterworks built during the Soviet Union.
The situation in the countries of Southeast Asia is exacerbated by complex and conflicting relations between countries located in the depths of the continent and countries of transit. At the same time, Mongolia, for example, thanks to friendly relations with the Russian Federation, has its own large merchant fleet.
Here is a list of states in Asia that do not have a sea coast:
- Azerbaijan;
- Republic of Armenia;
- Islamic Republic of Afghanistan;
- Kingdom of Bhutan ;
- The Republic of Kazakhstan;
- Republic of Kyrgyzstan;
- Lao People's Democratic Republic;
- Republic of Mongolia;
- Federal Republic of Nepal;
- The Republic of Tajikistan;
- Republic of Turkmenistan;
- The Republic of Uzbekistan;
Particularly recognized is the partially recognized Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, which has caused strife between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Nagorno-Karabakh is also denied access to the sea.
Separately, it is worth mentioning several more states that have disputed status, but are deprived of access to the sea - these are the Republic of South Ossetia and the Transnistrian Republic. Given the disputed status and smoldering conflict, it will be difficult for the Transnistrian Republic to gain access to the sea in the near future, since Ukraine is blocking the republic.