What Does It Mean When a Country Is Landlocked?

When a country is referred to as landlocked, it means that it is completely surrounded by land, resulting in the country with no access to open sea or other navigable waters. In other words, there is no direct access to the ocean or any other bodies of water that connect to the ocean.

In today’s interconnected world, not having access to open sea or waterway can greatly limit a country’s ability to engage in international trade. In a modern economy, much of the trading between countries is done through maritime transportation. So for a landlocked country, they must either have an agreement with bordering countries to use their waterways, or they must engage in road, rail, and air transportation, which is often more expensive and slower than sea transportation.

The United Nations’ Convention on the Law of the Sea recognises the unique situation of landlocked states and provides preferential access to maritime trade for them with the right to transit passage. Countries now have agreements with their neighbours to provide for the use of their waterways allowing them to transport goods and services to other countries via the sea. This is often known as Transit Access Provisions.

Examples of Landlocked Countries

There are 44 landlocked countries around the world, and they include such countries as Austria, Bolivia, Hungary, Mongolia, and Uzbekistan. Some even have key strategic positions or important resources such as oil, minerals, water, or gas despite being landlocked.

For example, Austria has become an increasingly important transportation hub since the fall of the Berlin Wall despite its landlocked position. It is also a popular tourist destination due to its rich culture and beauty.

Similarly, Bolivia is home to vast amounts of minerals and energy resources as well as immense agricultural potential. It has recently developed infrastructure that has allowed for the export of these resources despite its landlocked location.

Takeaways

Being landlocked means that a country has no access to navigable waterways, making it difficult for them to engage in international shipping and trade. Despite this, countries like Austria and Bolivia have been able to use their strategic positioning and resources to develop economies despite their landlocked status. With the support of the UN’s Convention on the Law of the Sea, landlocked countries can now access waterways through Transit Access Provisions which allows them to access international trade.

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Related Legal Concepts

Understanding landlocked status in international law often intersects with harassment issues when countries face economic pressure or trade disputes due to their geographic limitations. Transit access agreements may include provisions about what constitutes harass behavior between nations, and disputes can sometimes escalate to hate crime allegations when ethnic or cultural tensions arise over trade routes. These international legal frameworks help establish boundaries for acceptable conduct in trade negotiations.

The Bottom Line

Landlocked countries face unique legal and economic challenges due to their lack of direct ocean access, but international law provides mechanisms to ensure fair access to global trade through neighboring countries. The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea establishes important legal protections and transit rights that help level the playing field for these nations. For guidance specific to your situation, always consult a qualified, licensed attorney.