Territorial dispute - an international dispute between states over the legal ownership of a certain territory. Demarcation disagreements of the parties, as well as a unilateral territorial claim, are not a territorial dispute.

Currently, approximately 50 countries of the world dispute certain territories with their neighbors. According to the American researcher Daniel Pipes, there are 20 such disputes in Africa, 19 in Europe, 12 in the Middle East, and 8 in Latin America.

In the post-Soviet space, the most serious territorial dispute arose due to Nagorno-Karabakh, a territory in the south-west of Azerbaijan inhabited by Armenians. In 1991-1994 A war was waged between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. Nowadays, Nagorno-Karabakh is a de facto independent state, calling itself the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. Azerbaijan and the international community consider Nagorno-Karabakh to be part of Azerbaijan.

In December 1963, due to the aggravation of relations between the Cypriot Greeks and Turks, caused by outside interference in internal affairs Cyprus, the joint activities of the Greek and Turkish members of the House of Representatives ceased. Turkish Cypriots do not participate in the work of the House of Representatives, the Council of Ministers and other state bodies of Cyprus. The Greek Community Chamber was abolished in March 1965. The Turkish Cypriots in December 1967 created a “provisional Turkish administration”.

The Executive Council of the “Provisional Turkish Administration”, headed by the Vice-President of the Republic, exercised executive power in the Turkish regions of Cyprus. On February 13, 1975, the leadership of the Turkish community unilaterally proclaimed the so-called “Turkish Federative State of Cyprus” in the northern part of the island. Rauf Denktash was elected as the "first president" of the "Turkish Federative State of Cyprus". In June 1975, the Turkish community approved the constitution of this “state”. On November 15, 1983, the Legislative Assembly of the “Turkish Federative State of Cyprus” unilaterally proclaimed the so-called. an independent Turkish Cypriot state, which is called the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus". The “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” is still recognized only by Turkey.

Some islands of the Kuril chain are the subject of Japan's territorial claims against Russia. The Japanese link the conclusion of a peace treaty with the solution of the problem Southern Kuriles.

Kashmir is a disputed area in the far north of the Indian subcontinent. India lays claim to all of its territory. Pakistan and China are contesting India's rights, with Pakistan initially claiming possession of the entire area, and now it has actually included the northwestern part of Kashmir in its composition. Under Chinese control is the northeastern part of the territory of Kashmir. The rest is occupied by the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.

One of the most important problems in relations between China and India over the past fifty years has been the unresolved territorial-border dispute over Tibet. On August 25, 1959, the first widely publicized Sino-Indian armed incident took place. Following this incident, the PRC presented significant territorial claims to India.

The conflict between Syria and Israel has not been resolved golan heights. In 1967 they were occupied by Israel. In 1973, the UN established a buffer zone between Syrian and Israeli forces. In 1981, the heights were annexed by Israel. The new status is not recognized by the world community.

Argentina claims to Falkland (Malvinas) Islands in the South Atlantic. Disputes between Argentina and Great Britain about the ownership of the islands began in the early 19th century, when the first British settlers appeared on the islands.

Territorial dispute flares up between Canada and Denmark Hans Islands located near Greenland. Large deposits of oil and gas have been discovered on the shelf between Greenland and Hans, and both countries lay claim to these resources.

Islands of strategic importance Bassa da India, Europe, Juan de Nova and Glorioso(Indian Ocean near the African coast of Madagascar) are the subject of a dispute between France and Madagascar. Now controlled by France.

In December 1996 Imia rocks(Greek name) or Kardak (Turkish) in the Aegean became the cause of the conflict between Greece and Turkey. The conflict was stopped by the international community, but both countries did not give up their claims.

Chagos Archipelago in the Indian Ocean, consisting of 65 islands, the largest of which is Diego Garcia, with an area of ​​40 sq. km, is the subject of a dispute between Mauritius and the UK.

Spratly Archipelago V pacific ocean- the subject of a dispute between China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines. Brunei has also claimed part of the archipelago since 1984. The struggle for these islands has repeatedly led to armed conflicts. In particular, in 1974, a naval battle took place between the navies of China and South Vietnam.

Paracel Islands in the South China Sea are the subject of dispute between China and Vietnam. China took over the islands in 1974 and is now home to a Chinese-built air force base.

Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea are now disputed between Japan, China and Taiwan, but are controlled by the Japanese Navy. Oil reserves have been discovered near them.

Islands in Corisco Bay on the coast West Africa, the largest of which is the island of Bagne, with an area of ​​several hundred square meters, are the subject of a dispute between Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. The reason for the dispute is the unsettled state borders that were formed back in the colonial era.

San Andres Islands And Providencia in the Caribbean are the subject of a dispute between Nicaragua and Colombia. This territorial dispute is extremely difficult to resolve, because the maritime borders of not only Nicaragua and Colombia, but also Costa Rica, Honduras, Jamaica and Panama depend on the ownership of the islands.

Island Abu Musa and the Tanb Islands (Indian Ocean, Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz) - the subject of a dispute between Iran and the United United Arab Emirates. The islands are now controlled by Iran, which took control of them in 1971. The conflict between Iran and the UAE periodically flares up and turns into a phase of an exchange of harsh statements.

The most peaceful dispute over territory of Antarctica, which are claimed by seven states: Australia, France, Norway, New Zealand, Argentina, Chile and Great Britain, with the latter three countries contesting a number of territories of the ice continent from each other. Since all claimants to the territory are parties to the Atlantic Treaty, signed in 1959, recognizing the sixth continent as a zone of peace and international cooperation, free from weapons, the transition of these disputes to a military stage is practically impossible.

The material was prepared on the basis of information from RIA Novosti and open sources

Abstract on the topic:

"Disputed Territories"

Pupil 8 "A" class

linguistic gymnasium №13

Korostyleva Vladimir

Scientific adviser: Lokteva Galina Ivanovna

I.Introduction…………………………………………p.1

II.History of the discovery and development of the Kuril Islands and Sakhalin Island……………………..page 2

III. The problem of the "Northern Territories" after the second

World War…………………………………..page 4

IV.Conclusion…………………………………..page 10

V. Bibliography…………………………………p.11

Globalization processes are beginning, countries are actively cooperating with each other, but still there are unresolved problems, territorial issues, for example, the dispute over Western Sahara between Mauritania and Morocco, over the island of Mayote (Maore) between France and the Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros, about the Falkland (Malvinas) Islands between Great Britain and Argentina, the War of Independence of Palestine, etc. Russia is also among the disputants, Japan lays claim to the southern part of the Kuril archipelago. This is what I am going to talk about in my essay.

The Problem of the “Northern” Territories

The ancient and medieval history of Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands is full of secrets. So, today we do not know (and we are unlikely to ever know) when the first people appeared on our islands. Archaeological discoveries of recent decades only allow us to say that this happened in the Paleolithic era. The ethnic affiliation of the population of the islands remains a mystery until the first Europeans and Japanese appeared here. And they appeared on the islands only in the 17th century and were caught in the Kuriles

and southern Sakhalin Ainu, in northern Sakhalin - Nivkhs. Probably already then the Ulta (Oroks) lived in the central and northern regions of Sakhalin. The first European expedition that ended up near the Kuril and Sakhalin

coast, was the expedition of the Dutch navigator M.G. Friz. He not only explored and mapped the southeast of Sakhalin and the South Kuriles, but also proclaimed Urup a possession of Holland, which, however, was left without

any consequences. Russian explorers also played a huge role in the study of Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands. First - in 1646 - the expedition of V.D. Poyarkov discovered the north-western coast of Sakhalin, and in 1697 V.V. Atlasov learned about the existence of the Kuril Islands. Already in the 10s. 18th century the process of studying and gradually joining the Kuril Islands to the Russian state begins. The success of Russia in the development of the Kuriles became possible thanks to the entrepreneurial spirit, courage and patience of D.Ya. Antsiferov, I.P. Kozyrevsky, I.M. Evreinov, F.F. Luzhin,

M.P.Spanberg, V.Valton, D.Ya.Shabalin, G.I.Shelikhov and many other Russian explorers-explorers. Simultaneously with the Russians, who were moving along the Kuriles from the north, the Japanese began to penetrate into the South Kuriles and the extreme south of Sakhalin. Already in

second half of the 18th century. here appear Japanese trading posts and fishing, and since the 80s. 18th century - scientific expeditions begin to work. Mogami Tokunai and Mamiya Rinzo played a special role in Japanese research.

At the end of the XVIII century. research off the coast of Sakhalin was carried out by a French expedition under the command of J.-F. Laperouse and an English expedition under the command of V.R. Broughton. The emergence of the theory about the peninsular position of Sakhalin is connected with their work. The Russian

navigator I.F. Kruzenshtern, who in the summer of 1805 unsuccessfully tried to pass between Sakhalin and the mainland. G.I. Nevelskoy put an end to the dispute, who in 1849 managed to find a navigable strait between the island and the mainland. The discoveries of Nevelskoy were followed by the accession of Sakhalin to Russia. Russian military posts and villages appear one after another on the island. In 1869-1906. Sakhalin was the largest penal servitude in Russia. Since the beginning of the XIX century. Sakhalin and the Kuriles become the object of the Russian-Japanese territorial dispute. In 1806-1807. on South Sakhalin and Iturup, Russian sailors defeated Japanese settlements. The answer to this was the capture by the Japanese of the Russian navigator V.M. Golovnin on Kunashir. Over the past two centuries, Russian-Japanese

the border has changed several times. In 1855, in accordance with the Shimodsky Treaty, the border passed between the islands of Urup and Iturup, while Sakhalin was left undivided. In 1875, Russia handed over to Japan the Northern Kuriles that belonged to it, receiving in return all rights to Sakhalin. Early 20th century Sakhalin and Kurile Islands met in different states. Sakhalin was part of the Russian Empire, the Kuril Islands were part of the Japanese Empire. The issue of the territorial belonging of the islands was resolved by the Russian-Japanese

an agreement signed in 1875 in St. Petersburg. In accordance with the St. Petersburg Treaty, Japan ceded to Russia all its rights to Sakhalin. Russia, in exchange for this, ceded the Kuril

islands. As a result of Russia's defeat in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905. Japan managed to seize South Sakhalin from her. In 1920-1925. Northern Sakhalin was under Japanese occupation.

The last time the Russian-Japanese border changed was in 1945, when our country regained South Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands as a result of victory in World War II. In August-September 1945, with US approval, the Soviets occupied all the Kuriles, and in 1946 the US Occupation Administration announced to the Japanese government that the entire Kuril chain, including Habomai, was excluded from Japanese territory. In 1951, Japan began peace negotiations with the United States and its allies. Moscow participated at first, but then withdrew from the talks under the pretext of disagreements over US actions in the Cold War. Despite this, the final text of the San Francisco Peace Treaty establishes quite unambiguously that Japan "renounces all rights, claims and claims to the Kuril Islands."

At that time, Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida, who was negotiating on the Japanese side, publicly stated that Japan was unhappy with this wording, especially with regard to the southern part of the islands. Administratively, Habomai and Shikotan under Japanese rule

always referred to Hokkaido, and not to the Kuriles. As for Iturup and Kunashir, the historical fate of these two islands differs from the fate of the rest of the Kuriles, the rights of Russia to which were recognized by Japan back in 1855.

Nevertheless, Yoshida signed the treaty. All he could get from the Americans, represented by the ardent anti-communist Secretary of State John Foster Dulles, was that if Japan had such strong feelings for Habomai, it might try

apply to the International Court of Justice. Regarding the Japanese claims to the rest of the islands, the answer was very loud silence.

In 1955, Japan began trying to negotiate a separate peace treaty with Moscow. Japan understood the weakness of its position regarding the islands. But she hoped that there was an opportunity to get at least some

concessions regarding Habomai and Shikotan and to ensure that the United States, France and Britain recognize that at least these islands do not belong to the Kuril Islands, which Japan abandoned in 1951.

To Tokyo's surprise, the Soviets agreed to this demand: they wanted to stop Tokyo from moving closer to the US. But the conservatives in the Foreign Ministry, fearing any Japanese-Soviet reconciliation, immediately intervened and included Iturup and Kunashir in the list of territorial claims. Moscow said no, and the conservatives calmed down.

Nevertheless, in 1956, Prime Minister Ichiro Hatoyama decided to try to break the stalemate and sent his conservative foreign minister, Mamoru Shigemitsu, to Moscow with the authority to negotiate peace.

Shigemitsu started with the already standard Japanese requirements of Iturup and Kunashir - - was immediately refused. However, the Soviets again offered to return Shikotan and Habomai on the condition that a peace treaty be signed.

contract. Shigemitsu decided to accept this offer. However, when news of a possible deal leaked out, the Tokyo anti-communist

The Conservatives are back in action.

Shigemitsu was recalled and on the way home was "intercepted" by the same John Foster Dulles, who only five years earlier forced the Japanese to abandon the Kuril Islands, including most of what is now called the Northern Territories. Dulles warned that if Japan stopped claiming all of the Northern Territories, the US would not

will return Okinawa to the Japanese. Tokyo immediately broke off negotiations with Moscow.

Scientists argued a lot about how Dulles managed to make such a 180-degree turn. One theory claims that the US knew in 1951 that if it did not abide by the Yalta Accords over the Kuriles, Moscow might cease to abide by the Yalta Accords.

agreements on Austria—the problem had all but disappeared by 1956. Another interesting theory put forward by Professor Kimitada Miwa of Sophia University in Tokyo claims that the American position in 1951 was the result of a deal with the Soviets that secured Micronesia to the United States by decision of the UN Security Council three years earlier.

And, finally, there is such a theory that the insidious Dulles thought everything over and planned in advance. His intention from the very beginning was to force Japan to give up the Kuriles in 1951 and, knowing that the Japanese would later try to return the islands, to include in the peace treaty an article

Allowing the US to turn in its favor any concession that the Japanese might make to the Russians in the future. In short, if Japan allows the Soviets to hold even part of the Kuriles, the US is holding Okinawa. Today's Japanese position completely ignores all the subtleties described above. She simply states that the Northern Territories are ancestral Japanese lands ("koyu no ryodo") and as such must be returned. As far as the San Francisco Treaty is concerned, Tokyo puts forward two highly controversial arguments. The first is that, since the treaty does not say who exactly should receive the very Kuriles that Japan refused, then anyone, including Japan itself, can claim them. Another argument is that the Northern Territories do not belong to those Kuril Islands that Japan refused, and indeed cannot be treated, being, again, "original Japanese lands." With the last argument, however, not everything is in order. If Japan had not really given up the Northern Territories in 1951, then why would Yoshida have declared to the whole world in 1951 that he was devastated by the loss of the Northern Territories? Upon his return from San Francisco, he appeared before Parliament and was asked whether the term "Kuril Islands" used in the San Francisco Treaty included Iturup and Kunashir. The Office of Treaties of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, responding officially to this request on behalf of the Prime Minister, replied to Parliament on October 19, 1951: "Unfortunately, yes, it includes." Over the following years, Foreign Ministry officials commented on this key point in the following way: that the answer to parliament on October 19 was: a) misunderstood, b) outdated, and, finally, c) was "kokunai flour", that is, "for internal use" , - in other words, foreigners like me should not stick their nose into such matters. Foreign Ministry officials also like to indicate vigorous support from the United States, which, since 1956, has officially stated that Iturup and Kunashir definitely do not belong to the territories, which Japan abandoned in San Francisco. It is clear that the US, saying exactly the opposite of what it said in 1951, is simply using a little Cold War-style ploy to keep Tokyo and Moscow at bay - but such an assumption is politely ignored. But not only the United States participated in this process. In 1951, Britain played a major role in forcing Japan to give up the Kuriles, and the British embassy in Tokyo has in its archives a report from 1955, where the unexpected demand by the Japanese of Iturup and Kunashir was called "amusing and naive." Today Britain supports the same demand as perfectly reasonable. Australia, which in 1951 made efforts to prevent any concessions to Yoshida on territorial issues (for fear that post-war Japan would use any border uncertainty as an excuse for militarization), today also unequivocally supports the Japanese position. In short, what began as an exercise in punishing Japan for wartime aggression turned into the most successful operation of the Cold War to keep Japan in the West's camp. I am not suggesting that the Japanese position be completely abandoned. If Tokyo would refer to the reluctance with which Yoshida abandoned the Kuriles, and especially from their southern part in San Francisco, and would present some secret documents demonstrating what exactly the United States forced him to surrender, this would constitute a good legal basis for that. to push for a revision of this part of the peace agreement. But today Japan is trapped in its own claims that it never gave up the Northern Territories, so it no longer dares to tell the truth about what exactly happened in 1951. It is easier for her to blame everything on the former Soviet Union than on the United States. It vainly insists on the return of these "primordial lands" by Moscow, not realizing that in the face of precisely such a demand, Moscow cannot yield, even if it wanted to, for fear of setting a precedent that would allow its other neighbors to lay claim to the former "primordial lands". ". Hashimoto's suggestion that Moscow can control the territories for a few more years, provided it recognizes Japanese sovereignty over them, shows how inadequate Tokyo perceives both the laws of international diplomacy and the Russian mentality. Meanwhile, most Japanese, even educated ones, have completely forgotten what exactly happened back then, in the 50s, and are convinced that Tokyo's demands are absolutely legal. The government is being urged to continue negotiations in a hard-line manner and ignore Moscow's regular hints that it is still ready to return Shikotan and Habomai. Such a dispute is doomed to eternal extension. And John Foster Dulles is giggling to himself in his coffin.

I believe that the Kuriles should belong to Russia, because. Japan abandoned them in 1951 and it is too late to abandon their decisions, she lost the war and must endure the hardships associated with this. After all, if all peoples demand their lands, then there will be no such states as the USA, Great Britain, Russia, etc. And secondly, Russia and Japan are still at war, and from the beginning it is necessary to sign a peace treaty, and only then talk about territorial disputes.

If you look at the map, then it clearly shows the boundaries separating one state from another. Everything looks clear and unambiguous. Unfortunately, the reality is not so rosy. Every day the borders change: some states disappear, others appear, others seek to expand their territory at the expense of their neighbor. We offer an overview of the disputed territories claimed by several powers, not recognizing each other's rights.

Greece and Turkey have never been able to coexist peacefully, and the problem of Cyprus just gives them the opportunity to express dissatisfaction with each other in full. After several times the territory of the island passed from hand to hand, now it is divided into two parts. 37% is under Turkish control, 63% of the southern part is the Republic of Cyprus, between them there is a buffer zone under NATO control.

These cities on the northern coast of Morocco are the only remaining territories in Africa for Spain. Morocco regularly appealed to the Spanish government to grant them independence, but the local population categorically rejected such an idea. On this moment they are officially part of the EU.

Relations between the Singaporean and Malayan governments have never been easy, and most recently Malaysia has accused Singapore of illegally managing its lands. Point 20, a small piece of reclaimed land in Singapore, Malaysia claims it is within its territorial waters.

People are ready to fight in the modern world for anything, and New Moor Island is proof of this, not even an island, but a 10-square-meter spit. It appeared in 1970 in the Bay of Bengal after a cyclone and disappeared in 2010 due to rising sea levels. That's what India and Bangladesh have been fighting for for 40 years.

Another amazing territorial dispute involving a deserted island in the North Atlantic. It is claimed by Great Britain, Iceland and Ireland.

Although no one shed blood for this territory, anyway, it has long been divided, empty and hypothetically. And so the question of property constantly arises.

The dispute began when an Argentine whaling company created a Falkland Islands base around the time the UK annexed them. During the Falklands War, they briefly came under Argentine rule, but soon returned to British jurisdiction.

Although there is no sharp conflict between Great Britain and Spain over territories, they are still opponents in this matter.

The region, which is mostly desert, is one of the most sparsely populated areas in the world. It once belonged to Spain, but is now claimed by Morocco and the Saharan Arab Democratic Republic.

It has long been known that Sudan is not calm at all. For many years the country has been torn apart by civil war and bloodshed, and South Sudan has achieved its independence. Abyei is a region located at the very center of the conflict between the two countries. And although South Sudan claims it, it is controlled by its northern neighbor.

Unusual disputed territory. Its peculiarity lies in the fact that they are not fighting for it, but two countries are trying to get rid of it - Egypt and Sudan.

Despite gaining independence in 1981, Belize has been fighting off the territorial claims of Guatemala for the past 30 years. On some maps of the restless neighbor, Belize is listed as the 23rd district.

If you think that if three million people declare independence and form a new state, then all the other 200 countries will happily nod their heads and recognize it, then you are mistaken. In 1991, Somaliland declared independence from Somalia, but no one batted an eyelid. Perhaps it was necessary to choose a different name for the state?

More recently, there was a war between Argentina and Britain, which ended with the recognition of the status of British territory behind the islands. And in 2007, the President of Argentina again offered to resume negotiations.

Although most of the world community perceives Tibet as an autonomous region within China, the Tibetan government in exile in India strongly disagrees.

After decades of violent conflict, Kosovo, which was part of Serbia, declared independence in 2008. Since then, it has been recognized by 88 countries, including the US, UK and France. Russia and China, not to mention Seribia, were categorically against it.

Although the Kuril Islands officially became part of the USSR after the end of World War II, Japan still calls them its northern territories.

The narrow strip between Ukraine and Moldova has turned into a self-proclaimed republic, which was recognized only by two countries - South Ossetia and Abkhazia, which themselves are in the same status. For the rest of the world, it is an autonomous territorial unit within Moldova.

After World War II, the Korean Peninsula was divided along the 38th parallel. As a result, North Korea was formed in the north, and the Republic of Korea in the south. Both states claim their rights to the entire peninsula, once this has already led to the Korean War, after which a demilitarized zone appeared between them.

There are two countries claiming the name "China". These are the PRC and the Republic of China (Taiwan). Both are completely unprepared to recognize the existence of each other and claim the same territory.

21. Spratly Islands

The two self-proclaimed republics have been seeking independence from Georgia for about a century. In the region, the fierce confrontation did not stop, in which the Russian Federation helped them. As a result, only a few countries recognized their independence - Russia, Venezuela, Nicaragua and several Pacific islands.

The territory of Kashmir, located between India and Pakistan, is actually divided between three powers - India in the south, Pakistan in the northwest and China in the northeast. Neither side agrees to recognize the rights of others to these territories.

One of the most conflict regions on the world map for many centuries. The territory passed into the hands of various states many times. After the establishment of the State of Israel in 1947, the situation did not improve, there are constant shootings here, and serious military clashes periodically take place.

The last territorial conflict in the recent history of Ukraine and Russia.

No one undertakes to predict how such conflicts may end, but scientists have included them in

What territories can be taken away from Russia in the coming years.

Last Monday, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said that he would like to resolve the issue of ownership of the Kuril Islands with Russia and sign a peace treaty. According to him, "the solution of the issue of the northern territories is a long-standing desire of the Japanese people." How Japan intends to resolve the issue, Abe did not specify. Countries have not been able to sign a peace treaty since the end of World War II.

We decided to recall the history of the Kuril Islands, and at the same time other disputed territories, which in the future may cause a conflict between Russia and its neighbors.

Kurile Islands

The dispute between Russia and Japan over the Kuril Islands can be traced back to the 18th century. At that time, the islands were inhabited by the Ainu people and there was no permanent Russian or Japanese population on them yet. Expeditions to the Kuriles were carried out by both Russians and Japanese, but the parties did not exercise any real control over the territories until the 19th century.

The first full-fledged delimitation treaty was signed by Russia and Japan in 1855 - it recognized the right of the Japanese to the Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan islands, as well as to the Habomai group of islands. The remaining islands of the Kuril chain remained with Russia. It is on the basis of this treaty that Japan today puts forward claims to the territory of the southern Kuriles.

Subsequently, the islands changed hands more than once - in 1875, Russia, in exchange for South Sakhalin, gave Japan the entire Kuril chain, and in 1905, after the defeat in the Russo-Japanese war, gave South Sakhalin. In 1945, the USSR entered the war with Japan at the request of the United States on the terms of the subsequent return of the Kuril Islands and Sakhalin.

After the victory in the war, Soviet troops occupied the agreed territories, but Japan did not recognize the transfer of Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan and the Habomai Islands to the USSR. The reason was that, according to Japanese cartography, they do not belong to the Kuril Islands, being the historical Japanese province of Chisima.

At the same time, the Soviet Union agreed to transfer the islands of Habomai and Shikotan to Japan in exchange for the recognition of the remaining territories for the USSR, but these conditions did not suit Japan and the peace treaty between the countries was never signed.

In the USSR, the very fact of contesting the territories was not recognized until 1991, so there were no political negotiations on this topic. The active political phase in the issue of the Kuril Islands resumed already between Japan and the Russian Federation.

In 2007, Russia was asked to return to the terms of the 1955 armistice with the transfer of Habomai and Shikotan, but Japan refused and preferred to continue to consider all of the southern Kuriles as its "northern territories".

In 2010 and 2012 disputed territories visited by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, along with other high-ranking officials, which caused a disapproving reaction from Japan. A new attempt by the Japanese authorities to come closer in resolving the territorial dispute has not yet received a response from the Russian side.

Amur Islands and Altai

The eastern part of the border between Russia and China runs along the Amur River and its tributary, the Ussuri. In the channels of these rivers there are a huge number of islands, the territorial status of which was repeatedly disputed by the two sides throughout the 20th century.

So, in 1969, an armed conflict broke out between the troops of the USSR and the PRC over Damansky Island, as a result of which control over it actually passed from the Soviet side to the Chinese. In 1991, the island was finally assigned to the PRC by signing an agreement.

In 2005, Russia and China signed another ​demarcation agreement between the two states, according to which 337 square kilometers of island territories were assigned to the PRC, which were previously under the de facto control of Russia. Part of Bolshoi Ussuriysky Island, Tarabarov Island and also other, smaller islands located near Khabarovsk, in the place where the Ussuri flows into the Amur, went to China.

According to the Russian authorities, the transfer of disputed territories to China was made in order to normalize relations between the two countries and avoid a possible military conflict in the future. At the same time, already in 2012, China demanded that a section of the border in the Altai Mountains be moved deep into the Russian Federation.

The PRC hoped to get 17 hectares of land, through which, perhaps in the future, a gas pipeline to the land of the rising sun would pass. Thus, by transferring the disputed territories to China in 2005, the Russian authorities by no means got rid of Chinese claims to our land, but rather created a dangerous precedent.

At the same time, in China itself, the mood for the return of the former imperial borders is quite strong. The local press does not hesitate to publish maps on which the lands of Siberia and the Far East are designated as historical Chinese territory.

Pytalovo

In 1920, a peace treaty was signed between Soviet Russia and Latvia, according to which the parties recognized the sovereignty of the two states. At the same time, the state border was also drawn. As a result, part of the Ostrovsky district of the former Russian Empire became part of Latvia.

In 1940, Stalin brought Soviet troops into Latvia, and in 1944 the territory of the former Ostrovsky district again returned to the RSFSR, and it became the Pytalovsky district of the Pskov region.

After the collapse of the USSR, Latvia recognized its presence in the USSR as an occupation and, on this basis, put forward territorial claims to the Pytalovsky district. At the same time, the Russian authorities, regarding this issue, categorically refused to transfer the disputed territories to the Baltic country.

In 2007, the Latvians made concessions and the border was finally fixed the way it remained after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Latvia decided that the claims were not worth the deterioration of relations with Russia, in addition, the country needed to resolve territorial disputes in order to join NATO.

Saatsessian boot

Estonia also had territorial claims against Russia. However, they were not connected with the historical right of Estonia to certain Russian territories, but with a banal inconvenience.

The fact is that one of the Estonian highways, built back in the USSR, partly passes through the territory of the Pechora district of the Pskov region, protruding into the lands of Estonia and resembling boots in shape. To drive along this road, one has to cross the state border twice.

Russia has introduced a special regime in this area, according to which Estonian vehicles have the right to pass the Russian section of the road without border inspection, but it is forbidden to stop and walk there.

The Russian authorities intended to resolve these inconveniences in 2005 by transferring the Saatses boot to Estonia in exchange for almost 100 hectares of forest land. But the signing of the already finished agreement fell through due to the introduction by the Estonian side of the text of amendments that did not suit the Russian Federation.

As a result, in 2014, the countries signed another demarcation agreement recognizing the borders left after the collapse of the USSR as valid. Estonia, like Latvia, at a certain stage was forced to curtail the issue of transferring borders due to the rules for joining NATO.

Karelia

During its history, Karelia has become a disputed territory more than once. It belonged to the Novgorod Republic, Sweden and the Russian Empire. In 1920, after civil war and the first Soviet-Finnish war, the western part of Karelia was transferred to Finland.

The territory was returned after the Second World War, although part of the historical region of Karelia remained part of Finland - the administrative units of North and South Karelia still exist there. Since the end of World War II, the Russian-Finnish border has not changed and has never been challenged by the official Finnish government.

However, recently, in Finland, moods for the return of Karelian lands have been growing - according to sociological surveys, at least a third of the population is in favor of uniting Karelia under the Finnish flag. Recently, several political organizations have emerged advocating the return of the disputed territory.

Svalbard

The Svalbard Islands were first visited in the 12th century by the Pomors who inhabited Rus'. They were finally discovered by the famous Dutch navigator Willem Barents in 1596. Since then, whaling and walrus hunting have been regularly carried out on the island, until by XIX the animals were completely exterminated.

On Russian maps at that time, this territory was designated as part of the Russian Empire, although Denmark and Great Britain also had claims to it. At the same time, in fact, the islands remained without any control until the beginning of the 20th century.

In 1920, Norway, taking advantage of the collapse of the Russian Empire, declared its rights to Svalbard. After that, an international treaty was signed on the special legal status of Svalbard, according to which the archipelago was recognized as the territory of the Norwegian crown.

At the same time, all countries that signed the treaty had the right to conduct commercial and research activities on the islands. Svalbard was also recognized as a demilitarized zone.

Between the world wars, coal mining was actively carried out on the archipelago, in addition, Svalbard became one of the centers of polar aviation. During the war, many mines were destroyed, but after mining resumed - mainly thanks to the efforts of Norway and the USSR.

By the time the Soviet Union collapsed, Svalbard's coal reserves had run out and the Norwegian settlements on the island refocused their economy on Arctic tourism. The Norwegian authorities took a position of protecting the ecological situation in the archipelago, introducing new laws in the 2000s that severely limited the activities of organizations on the islands.

The Russian part of Svalbard could not adapt to the new realities and currently lives on government subsidies. However, the Russian population of Svalbard is no more than 500 people, most of whom live in the village of Barentsburg. At the same time, about two thousand Norwegians live on the islands.

Russia and Norway have not officially disputed the ownership of Svalbard, although the countries have recently had territorial claims against each other. They concerned primarily the drawing of the border in the waters of the Barents Sea. The Russian side drew the border along the coast of the island of Spitsbergen, while the Norwegians insisted that the border should pass at an equal distance from Spitsbergen and Franz Josef Land.

The dispute entered an active phase when hydrocarbon reserves were discovered in this sea area. In addition, there is a brisk fishing industry, and Russian and Norwegian border guards often arrested fishing boats here. In 2010, the dispute was resolved by the signing of a demarcation agreement, which was drawn up on a compromise basis.

Alaska

Alaska was discovered by Russian navigators in the 18th century and until 1867 was controlled by the so-called Russian-American company. However, after the unsuccessful Crimean War, it became clear that Russia was simply not able to protect such a remote and undeveloped territory as Alaska.

In addition, after Alexander II carried out large-scale reforms, the treasury was very short of money, and the government decided to sell the peninsula. The amount of the deal with the US authorities amounted to 7.2 million dollars, that is, 4.74 dollars per square kilometer.

Almost immediately after the sale, gold was discovered in Alaska, but the mining industry began to develop actively only towards the end of the 19th century, when Golden fever. In 1959, Alaska became a state, and now there is extensive mining, including oil.

Since the sale of the peninsula, official Russia has never expressed its rights to it, although a reminder of the Russian past of Alaska keeps popping out of the lips of politicians. Of course, in the wake of these sentiments is Vladimir Zhirinovsky, who has long been proposing to demand Alaska back from the United States. After the events in Ukraine and the annexation of Crimea to the Russian Federation, talk about the return of Alaska resumed with renewed vigor, although for the most part they are more of a comic nature.

List of territories about which there are disputes and whose sovereignty is in question. This category contains information about territories that do not independently claim the status of a separate sovereign state, and disputes between recognized and partially recognized states are considered as disputes between recognized states.
EUROPE
1. Lake Constance - a latent conflict about the ownership of the lake between Austria, Germany and Switzerland.
2. Veliki Shkolzh and Mali Shkolzh - controlled by Croatia, disputed by Bosnia and Herzegovina.
3. Top of Mont Blanc - a dispute about the ownership of the peak between France and Italy.
4. Military complex near Sveta Gera, in the region of Žumberak - administered by Slovenia, contested by Croatia.
5. Gibraltar - Spain claims that the territory belongs to her under the Treaty of Utrecht. Managed by the UK.
6. Piran Bay - a long dispute between Slovenia and Croatia.
7.Ivangorod and Pechersky district - Russia recognized them as part of Estonia under the Tartu Treaty of 1920. After the fall of the Soviet Union, the region remained with Russia. Formally, Estonia has no claims in this area.
8. Imia or Kardak is part of the Aegean dispute between Greece and Turkey.
9. Carlingford Lough - border dispute between Ireland and the UK.
10. Loch Foyle - a border dispute between Ireland and Great Britain.
11. The settlements of Vasilevka, Dorotskoye, Kochiery, Koshnitsa, Novaya Molovata, Pogrebya, Pyryta, Kopanka and part of the city of Bendery (village Varnitsa) - controlled by Moldova, disputed by the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic
12. The area around the peak of Montmalus - between Andorra and Spain.
13.Olivensa - administered by Spain, disputed by Portugal.
14. Vukovar Island - controlled by Croatia, disputed by Serbia.
15. Tuzla Island and Kerch Strait– disputed by Ukraine from Russia since 2003.
16. Sherengrad Island - during the existence of Yugoslavia, it was part of Croatia. During the war, it was controlled by the armed forces of the Serbian Krajina. Came under Serbian administration after the war, disputed by Croatia.
17. Isthmus between Gibraltar and Spain - Spain claims that the UK illegally occupies the territory because it was not included in the Treaty of Utrecht.
18. Prevlaka - controlled by Croatia, disputed by Montenegro.
19. Regions of the Danube, parts of the regions of Osijek and Sombor - a dispute between Croatia and Serbia.
20.Sarych - controlled by Ukraine, disputed by Russia. The conflict is based on the division of the Black Sea Fleet and the lease agreement for Sevastopol facilities.
21. Sastavsi - administered by Serbia, disputed by Bosnia and Herzegovina.
22. Northern Kosovo - under local government and controlled by KFOR, disputed by the Republic of Kosovo and Serbia.
23. Rockall Rock - administered by the UK, disputed by Ireland, Denmark (Faroe Islands) and Iceland.
24. The mouth of the Ems and the western part of the Gulf of Dollars - a dispute between the Netherlands and Germany.
25. Aegean dispute - a wide range of contentious issues about the ownership of the national airspace, territorial waters and the exclusive economic zone between Greece and Turkey.
ASIA AND OCEANIA
1. Aasal, Al-Qaa, Al-Qasr, Deir Al-Aashayer, Kfar Kouk and Tufail is a disputed territory between Lebanon and Syria.
2. "Point 20", a small piece of land reclaimed from the sea in Singapore - Malaysia claims that it is in its territorial waters.
3. Abu Musa - controlled by Iran, disputed by the United Arab Emirates.
4. Azerbaijani exclaves of Karki, Yukhara, Askipara, Bakkhudarli and Yaradullu - controlled by Armenia after the Nagorno-Karabakh war.
5. Aksai Chin - controlled by China, disputed by India.
6.Albert Mayer - Administered by Tonga, disputed by New Zealand
7. The enclaves of Bhutan in Tibet (Cherkip Gompa, Dungmar, Gesur, Gezon, Itse Gompa, Khochar, Nyanri, Ringang, Sanmar, Tarchen and Zufilfuk) - controlled by China, disputed by Bhutan.
8. Artsvashen/Bashkend is an exclave of the Gegharkunik region of Armenia, held by Azerbaijan after the Nagorno-Karabakh war.
9. Beveridge - controlled by Tonga, disputed by Niue (associated with New Zealand state)
10. Big Tomb and Small Tomb - controlled by Iran, disputed by the United Arab Emirates.
11. Boraibari - controlled by Bangladesh, disputed by India.
12. Gilgit-Baltistan - administered by Pakistan, disputed by India.
13. Golan Heights - Syrian territory captured by Israel in 1967 and annexed by Israel in 1981.
14. The Bakdu Mountains is a disputed territory between North Korea and China, which is also claimed by Taiwan and South Korea.
15.Daihata-Dumabari - administered by India, disputed by Bangladesh.
16. Demchok, Chumar, Kaurik, Shipki Pass, Jadh and Lapfal are disputed areas located between Aksai Chin and Nepal, controlled by India but disputed by China and Taiwan. Demchok controls China.
17. Jammu and Kashmir - divided between Pakistan, India and China, disputed by India and Pakistan.
18. Doi Lang - controlled by Burma, disputed by Thailand.
19. Isfara Valley - administered by Kyrgyzstan, disputed by Tajikistan.
20. Shaksgam Valley - administered by China, disputed by India.
21.Indo-Bangladeshi Enclaves - There are 103 Indian enclaves inside the main body of Bangladesh while there are 71 Bangladeshi enclaves inside the main body of India. In 1974 Bangladesh approved a proposed treaty to exchange all the enclaves in each other's territories, but India never ratified it.
22. Karang Unarang is a disputed territory between Indonesia and Malaysia.
23.Korean Peninsula - Northern and Southern Territories claim each other's territory as their own.
24.Kula Kngri and mountainous areas west of this peak, the western region of Haa - administered by China, claimed by Bhutan.
25. Siachin Glacier and Saltoro Region - Captured by India in 1984, disputed by Pakistan.
26. Durand Line - tribal territory partly administered by Pakistan and Afghanistan, Afghanistan claims all land inhabited by Pashtuns.
27. Lifitila - controlled by India, disputed by Bangladesh.
28. Minerva - ruled by Tonga, disputed by Fiji
29. The monastery complex of David Gereji is a border dispute between Georgia and Azerbaijan.
30.Small parts of the Oecussi region - administered by East Timor, disputed by Indonesia.
31. Some islands on the Naf River are disputed between Bangladesh and Burma.
32. Several areas in the Ferghana Valley are disputed between Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.
33.Niloson (Lancaster) - disputed by France (French Polynesia)
34. Oaruh and Umm Al-Maradim - Administered by Kuwait, contested by Saudi Arabia.
35. Kalapani region, Sasta river dispute, Antudanda and Nawalparasi - administered by India, disputed by Nepal.
36. The Prachinburi area is disputed between Thailand and Cambodia.
37. Renaissance Island (now a peninsula) is a disputed territory between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
38. Swains Island - US-ruled, contested by Takelau, which is dependent on New Zealand, which also does not recognize US sovereignty over the island.
39. Hawar Island - administered by Bahrain, disputed by Qatar
40. South Talpatti or New Moore Island, the island that appeared and disappeared, over which there was a dispute between India and Bangladesh from the 1970s to the 2000s, still affects the uncertainty of the maritime border.
41. Islands in the Torres Strait between the Australian peninsula of Cape York and the island New Guinea- administered by Australia, disputed by Papua New Guinea
42. Macclesfield Islands - Administered by China, contested by Taiwan and Vietnam.
43. Matvey and Hunter Islands - disputed between Vanuatu and France.
44. Senkaku Islands (Daoyu) - administered by Japan, disputed by China and Taiwan.
45. The Spratly Islands are disputed between China, Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei.
46. ​​Islands Ukatny, Rigid and disputed island of Little Pearl - controlled by Russia, disputed by Kazakhstan.
47. Khuriya Islands Miraya - Administered by Oman, disputed by Yemen.
48. Paracel Islands - fully controlled by China, disputed by Taiwan and Vietnam.
49. The pass of three pagodas is disputed between Burma and Thailand.
50.Pirdivah - administered by India, disputed by Bangladesh.
51. Border dispute between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
52. Pratas - controlled by China, disputed by Taiwan.
53. Pulau Batek - transferred by Timor to Indonesia as compensation in 2004.
54. Various territories: Dac Jerman, Dac Dang, the La Drank zone, the islands of Bae, Milyu, Eyu, Peak, and Northern Piratis are disputed between Vietnam and Cambodia.
55. Muharaja River Island - controlled by India but disputed by Bangladesh.
56. Minerva Reefs - controlled by Tonga, but claimed by Fiji.
57. Sabah (North Barneo) - controlled by Malaysia. The Philippines retains claims to Sabah on the grounds that it is a historical part of the Sultanate of Sulu, whose successor is the Philippines.
58. Gaza Strip - controlled by Hamas, disputed by the Palestinian National Authority, formed from representatives of Fatah
59. The village of Perevi - in Soviet times, it was partly part of the South Ossetian Autonomous Region, on the basis of which part of the village (the so-called Maly Perev) is considered by the authorities of South Ossetia the territory of the republic. The reason for the disputed status is the impossibility of access to the Georgian part of the village, bypassing the South Ossetian one. In 2008-2010 Perevi was completely controlled by Russia. Since 2010, it has been transferred under the control of Georgia (including Maly Perev).
60. The village of Aibga in the Gagra district of Abkhazia with the adjacent territory (160 sq. km) is disputed by Russia as part of the single village of Aibga, divided in Soviet times by the administrative border along the Psou River between the RSFSR and the Georgian SSR. Controlled by Abkhazia.
61. Liancourt Rocks - Administered by South Korea, disputed by Japan.
62. Scarborough - administered by China, disputed by the Philippines and Taiwan.
63. Sir Creek - small swampy land disputed between India and Pakistan.
64. Thewa-i-Ra (ex. Conway) - controlled by Fiji, disputed by France (New Caledonia)
65.Tuva - ruled by Russia, disputed by Taiwan
66. Wake - Administered by the US, contested by the Marshall Islands.
67.Fasht Ad-Dibal and Kitat Jaradeh are disputed between Bahrain and Qatar, not included in the 2001 Judgments of the International Court of Justice during the division.
68. Shabaa Farms is a disputed territory between Israel and Syria, which is also claimed by Lebanon.
69. Jiandao - administered by China, contested by Taiwan, North Korea and South Korea.
70. Part of the Poipet commune - administered by Thailand, disputed by Kombodia.
71.Part of Akrotiri Sovereign Base - UK controlled, disputed by Cyprus.
72.Part of Dakelia Sovereign Base - UK-administered, disputed by Cyprus.
73. Shatt al-Arab is a disputed territory between Iraq and Iran.
74. South Kuril Islands - administered by Russia, disputed by Japan.
75. Southern Tibet - Administered by India, but contested by China and Taiwan, which do not recognize the legitimacy of the McMahon line.
AFRICA
1. Abyei - Both Sudan and South Sudan claim the area, but control Sudan after the independence of South Sudan since 2011.
2.Bakassi - the area was transferred to Cameroon by Nigeria by decision of the International Court of Justice and the conclusion of the Greentree Agreement.
3. Bank du Geyser - France claims that the islands are part of the group of islands in the Indian Ocean within the French Southern and Antarctic lands. Disputed by Madagascar and the Comoros.
4.Basas da India, the island of Europe and the island of Juan de Nova - de facto part of the French Southern and Antarctic lands, disputed by Madagascar.
5. Bure - administered by Ethiopia, disputed by Eritrea.
6. The Caprivi strip is a disputed territory between Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
7. Ceuta - ruled by Spain, disputed by Morocco.
8. The Chagos Archipelago - Great Britain administers the archipelago within the British Indian Ocean Territory. Disputed by Mauritius and the Seychelles.
9. Part of Gikumbi District, Northern Province - administered by Rwanda, contested by Uganda.
10. Gloriose Islands - de facto part of the French Southern and Antarctic lands, disputed by Madagascar, Seychelles and Comoros.
11. The Halaiba Triangle - was previously under the joint control of Egypt and Sudan. Egypt now claims full control.
12. Heglig - claimed by both Sudan and South Sudan, controlled by South Sudan, internationally recognized as part of Sudan.
13. Ilemi Triangle - administered by Kenya, disputed by South Sudan.
14.Islas Chafarinas - administered by Spain, disputed by Morocco.
15. Jodha - claimed by both Sudan and South Sudan, controlled by South Sudan.
16. Part of the Kabale area - administered by Uganda, disputed by Rwanda.
17. Kafiya Kingi - claimed by both Sudan and South Sudan, controlled by South Sudan.
18. Kaka - claimed by both Sudan and South Sudan, controlled by South Sudan.
19. Ka-Ngwane - controlled by South Africa. Swaziland claims that the territory was confiscated during the colonial wars.
20. Part of the Kahemba region is a disputed area between Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The countries agreed to end the dispute in July 2007, but the issue has not been fully resolved.
21. The village of Koualou is disputed between Benin and Burkina Faso.
22. Village of Kpeaba - Guinean troops have occupied the village since January 2013, but de jure belongs to Côte d'Ivoire.
23. Moyo District, an area near Logoba - disputed between South Sudan and Uganda.
24. Lanchinda-Pweto Province - administered by Zambia, disputed by the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
25. Islands in Mbamba Bay and Lake Nyasa - controlled by Tanzania, disputed by Malawi on the basis of the Anglo-German treaty of 1890.
26. The islands of Mbanje, Cocotiers and Congo are disputed between Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.
27. Melilla - administered by Spain, disputed by Morocco.
28. The surroundings of Migingo Island and further north, near the islands of Lolwe, Owasi, Remba, Ringiti and Sigulu in Lake Victoria, are disputed between Kenya and Uganda.
29. Ogaden - belongs to Ethiopia, but is inhabited by ethnic Somalis, which was the reason for the claim from Somalia. This was the reason for the two Ogaden wars - 1962 and 1977.
30. Several islands on the Ntem River are disputed between Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea.
31. Several villages near the Okpara River are disputed between Benin and Nigeria.
32. Orange River Border - Namibia claims that the border runs along the middle of the river, while South Africa claims that it lies along the north coast.
33. Peñón de Alusemas - administered by Spain, disputed by Morocco.
34. Peñon de Vélez de la Gomera - Administered by Spain, contested by Morocco.
35. Perejil Island - Administered by Spain, disputed by Morocco. After the 2002 incident, both countries agreed to return to the status quo of the previous incident.
36. Ras Doumeira and Doumeira Island - Administered by Eritrea, contested by Djibouti.
37. The Rufunzo Valley and Sabanerwa are disputed between Rwanda and Burundi.
38. Rukwanzi Island and the Semliki Valley are disputed between the Congo and Uganda.
39. Sindabezi Island - Administered by Zambia, contested by Zimbabwe.
40. Sokotri archipelago - Somalia does not officially claim the archipelago, but asked the UN to look into the "status" of the archipelago, whether it should belong to Yemen or Somalia.
41.Southeastern Algeria - disputed by Libya.
42. Tiran and Sanafir Islands - administered by Egypt, disputed by Saudi Arabia.
43. Tromelin Island - de facto part of the French Southern and Antarctic lands, disputed by Mauritius and the Seychelles.
44. Tsoron-Zalambessa is a disputed territory between Ethiopia and Eritrea.
45. Wadi Halfa - administered by Egypt, disputed by Sudan.
46. ​​Coast of Yenga, left bank of the Macon and Moa rivers - administered by Sierra Leone, disputed by Guinea.
47. Badme is the pretext for the 1998 Ethiopian-Eritrean war. Currently under Ethiopian control.
48. Mayotte - In a 2009 referendum, the population decided to become an overseas department of France, but the Comoros claim the territory.
49.South-eastern part of Western Sahara - administered by Morocco, disputed by Western Sahara.

NORTH AMERICA
1. Hans Island - Canada and Denmark (on behalf of Greenland) claim ownership of the island.
2. Continental shelf in the eastern Gulf of Mexico beyond 200 miles - the ownership of a small gap beyond 200 nautical miles of the economic zones of the United States, Cuba and Mexico has not yet been definitively determined.
3. Machias Seal Island - US and Canada can't determine ownership.
4.North Rock - US and Canada can't determine ownership.
5. Strait of Juan de Fuca - US and Canada cannot determine ownership.
6. Dixon-Entrance - US and Canada can't determine ownership.
7. Portland Canal - US and Canada can't determine ownership.
8. Beaufort Sea - US and Canada cannot determine ownership.
9. The Northwest Passage and some other Arctic waters are in Canadian territorial waters, but the US claims navigational rights
CENTRAL AMERICA
1.Isla Aves - Administered by Venezuela, Dominica renounced claims to the island in 2006, but continues to claim adjacent seas.
2. Bajo Nuevo - controlled by Colombia. Honduras recognized the sovereignty of Colombia, Nicaragua, Jamaica and the United States did not recognize.
3. Southern half of Belize - disputed by Guatemala, which previously claimed all of Belize.
4.Northern part of the island of Calero - controlled by Costa Rica, disputed by Nicaragua.
5. Island of Conejo - controlled by Honduras, disputed by El Salvador.
6. Navassa - US-ruled, contested by Haiti.
7. Sapodilla Cay - administered by Belize, disputed by Guatemla and Honduras.
8. Serranilla - Jamaica recognized the sovereignty of Colombia, Honduras, Nicaragua and the United States do not recognize.
SOUTH AMERICA
1. Guyana West of the Essequibo River - Venezuela and Guyana have overlapping maritime claims. Barbados and Guyana also signed an agreement on joint cooperation in this area.
2. Ankoka Islands - Administered by Venezuela, contested by Guyana.
3. Arroyo de la Invernada (Rincón de Artigas) and Vila Albornoz - Uruguay disputes 237 sq. km. the river Invernada near the Masoller region.
4. Falkland (Malvinas) Islands - administered by the UK, disputed by Argentina.
5. French Guiana west of the Marouini River - administered by France, disputed by Suriname.
6. Guaira Falls (Set Quidas) - disputed islands, partly controlled by Brazil and Paraguay, were flooded by the Itaipu Reservoir.
7. Guyana east of the upper arm of the Quarantine - Administered by Guyana, contested by Suriname.
8. Isla Brasiliera - Administered by Brazil, but Uruguayan officials claim the island is part of their Artigas department.
9.Isla Suarez - Administered by Bolivia, contested by Brazil.
10. The maritime border of the Gulf of Venezuela - Colombia claims that it has the right to the waters in this bay.
11.South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands - administered by the UK, disputed by Argentina.
12. The ice field of Southern Patagonia between Monte Fitz Roy and Cerro Murallion - the border has not yet been officially defined, however, Argentina and Chile have their own claims here.