Three Remaining Unclaimed Territories Globally

• Marie Byrd Land (Antarctica) - largest unclaimed territory, uninhabitable
• Africa territory between Egypt and Sudan - Sahara Desert location, uninhabitable
• European territory between Croatia and Serbia - 7 square kilometers, most interesting case

Geographic Details of European Territory

• Located directly next to Danube River
• 7 square kilometers (twice size of Central Park NYC)
• Larger than Vatican City and Monaco (both recognized European nations)
• Legally classified as terra nullius - theoretically claimable by anyone

Historical Background

• 19th century: controlled by Habsburgs/Austro-Hungarian Empire
• Original municipal boundaries followed Danube River course
• Austro-Hungarian government straightened Danube through hydraulic engineering projects
  • Made river more navigable for goods transport
  • Unwittingly created future territorial dispute

Political Evolution and Border Disputes

• Post-WWI: Austria-Hungary collapsed
• Croatia and Serbia became part of Yugoslavia
• 1990s: Yugoslavia collapsed, Croatia and Serbia became separate countries
• Danube River meandered/changed course over decades
  • Left 100 square kilometers on eastern side (theoretically Serbian territory)
  • Left 10-30 square kilometers on western bank in three tiny pockets (theoretically Croatian territory)

Current Border Dispute Logic

• Serbia's position: modern boundary = current Danube River course
• Croatia's position: boundary = historical 19th century Danube course
• Result: both sides claim eastern territories, neither claims western territory
• Croatia won't claim western territory because it would legitimize current river border
  • Would forfeit more valuable eastern territorial claims

Liberland Declaration and Claims

• 2015: Vit Jedlika (Czech libertarian politician) declared "Free Republic of Liberland"
• Raised flag within territory
• 600,000+ people worldwide signed up as future citizens
• Email registration system available for citizenship applications

Legal and Practical Obstacles

• Infrastructure: no infrastructure, located on flood plain
• Security: Croatian army surrounds area, prevents entry
• Arrests: dozens arrested by Croatian authorities for attempted entry
• Jedlika arrested/detained multiple times

Official Government Positions

• Serbia: considers matter trivial, Liberland doesn't infringe Serbian border (delineated by Danube)
• Croatia: wants international arbitration, land should go to Serbia or Croatia (not third party)
• Croatia maintains neutrality to use territory as bargaining chip with Serbia

Legal Analysis

• 2016 Chicago Journal of International Law article examined Liberland's statehood claim
• Based on 1933 Montevideo Convention criteria for legal statehood
• Key legal considerations:
  • Croatia's insistence territory belongs to Serbia could constitute renunciation of Croatian rights
  • Serbian government's renunciation could transform land to terra nullius
  • Territory would belong to first entity to claim it (Liberland)
  • Complicated border history makes actual ownership difficult to determine under international law

Current Status

• No countries recognize Liberland's sovereignty
• Future recognition depends on evolving geopolitical circumstances