Landlocked countries: developmental difficulties

Access to the sea trade routes has always been considered one of the main signs of a powerful state. Hardly a large part of all wars in human history went for access to the shoreline. With the development of technology and the change in the structure of transport, tensions between states due to lack of access to the sea have substantially weakened, and landlocked countries 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 World Ocean. As a rule, non-landlocked countries sell the right to use their flag to commercial shipping companies, which thus save on taxes in developed countries. For States that sell this right, such proceeds are often an important help.

The UN guardianship of interests

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 save them from having to conclude separate treaties on the right to use the ports of neighboring states without access to the sea.

The landlocked countries are on four continents. At the same time, most of these countries are in Africa. Here is their list:

• Botswana;
• Burkina Faso (formerly known as Upper Volta);
• Burundi;
• Republic of Zambia;
• Republic of Zimbabwe;
• The Kingdom of Lesotho;
• Republic of Malawi;
• Mali;
• Republic of the Niger ;
• The Rwandese Republic;
• The Kingdom of Swaziland;
• Uganda;
• Central African Republic;
• Chad;
• Federative Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.

All African landlocked countries fall under the UN classification in the category of developing countries and have serious problems with the standard of living of the population. Obviously, lack of access to the main transport arteries also affects their well-being.

In 2011, as a result of the referendum, from the Sudan, which has ports on the Red Sea, separated southern provinces, partially inherited from the past state name. The states that do not have access to the sea have become one more. However, the wealth of oil deposits allows us to hope for an early restoration of Southern Sudan after the conflict with its northern neighbor. The government of the country has entered the East African Union, which will simplify access to transport routes.

The largest landlocked countries are in Africa, namely 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, but after the referendum and separation of Eritrea, it lost its status as a naval power. Here it is worth noting that for Eritrea access to one of the most important in the transport respect of the 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, risking life at the same time.

Which state has no access to the sea in South America?

On the South American continent, despite the vast length of the coastline, there are two states that lack 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 saltpetre. Since then, the country was deprived of access to the sea until 2010, in which an agreement was signed between Bolivia and Peru, which provides for the rental of a small plot for the construction of the Bolivian port. In addition, Bolivia is the only landlocked state, but it also has its own naval forces.

The second country without its own seacoast is Paraguay, which is located in the heart of the continent. He never claimed to have access to the sea. Most of the country is made up of drylands, the smaller part is dense tropical forests. However, Paraguay has one significant advantage compared to other states without seaports. Across the country flows the second largest continent river - Parana, flowing into the Atlantic Ocean. Although ocean navigation is possible only in the lower reaches at a distance of 640 km from the ocean, small vessels and boats can be used in the middle course.

Which state has no access to the sea in Europe?

In Europe, such states 16. 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, within the framework of the concept of a united and peaceful Europe, this shortcoming is not so acute.

Here are the European states that do not have access to the sea:

• Austria;
• The Kingdom of Andorra;
• Republic of Belarus;
• Vatican;
• Hungary (uses the ports of Croatia on the Adriatic Sea);
• Kosovo;
• The Principality of Liechtenstein ;
• The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg;
• Moldova;
• San Marino;
• Serbia;
• Slovakia;
• Czech Republic;
• Swiss Confederation.

Peaceful coexistence and the principles of good neighborliness 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.

Waterless Central Asia

Many Asian landlocked countries are located on the territory of the CIS. The republics of the former USSR lost their access to the sea due to independence. At the same time, Russia has undertaken to provide access to its deep-sea transport system to countries that have access to the Caspian Sea. This allows Iran, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan to conduct 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 South-East Asia is aggravated by complex and conflicting relations between the countries located deep in the continent and the transit countries. At the same time, Mongolia, for example, thanks to its 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;
• The Federal Republic of Nepal;
• The Republic of Tajikistan;
• The Republic of Turkmenistan;
• The Republic of Uzbekistan;

A partially recognized Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh stands apart, which caused discord between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Nagorno-Karabakh is also deprived of access to the sea.

Separately it is worthwhile to mention a few more states that have a controversial status, but lack access to the sea: the Republic of South Ossetia and the Transnistrian Republic. In the face of disputed status and a smoldering conflict, the Transnistrian republic will find it difficult to access the sea in the near future, since Ukraine is blocking the republic.