Lesser-known facts about the father of modern science
Territorial disputes can last decades, if not centuries or more. Found across the world, they're complicated and almost always ever-changing. Some of these disputes are caused by rivalries between countries or peoples. But most of them often involve claims of historical ownership. And when it comes to a resolution, some of these disputes didn't even end in a decisive war. The losing side in a military defeat may simply refuse to relinquish its claim.
From Palestine to Crimea, click through the following gallery to read up on some of the most disputed territories in the world.
The geographical areas disputed by Israelis and Palestinians are impossible to ignore. Previously part of Mandate Palestine, the territories were captured by Israel during the Six-Day War in 1967. Over the decades Israel has expanded into Palestine, making the Palestinian territories smaller and smaller.
Various attempts have been made to resolve the conflict as part of the Israeli–Palestinian peace process and the hopes of a potential two-state solution. However, occupation and blockades in these territories persist and tensions have continued to rise since Israel began carrying out daily raids in the West Bank in 2022. Gaza in particular has been blockaded since 2007, meaning Palestinians cannot cross the border and have limited access to essential resources like clean water and food.
On October 7, 2023, the Palestinian militant group Hamas responded to years of incursions by carrying out a coordinated attack on Israel. Over 1,200 people were killed, and 250 were kidnapped, which led the Israeli government to declare a state of war. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has threatened to turn Gaza into a “deserted island” through violent retaliation.
Crimea, a peninsula located by the Black Sea, has a predominantly ethnic Russian population, which became part of Ukraine in 1954. Russia and Ukraine were then both part of the Soviet Union.
In February and March 2014, Russia invaded and subsequently annexed Crimea from Ukraine. This took place in the aftermath of the Revolution of Dignity.
In February 2022, the conflict saw a major escalation as Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The invasion has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths on both sides. It has also caused Europe's largest refugee crisis since World War II.
Russia has other territorial disputes on its hands, including a tiny strip of land called Transdniestria, which is located along Moldova's border with Ukraine.
Transdniestria proclaimed independence from Moldova and allegiance to Moscow in the early '90s, and has been considered a "frozen conflict" ever since.
Even with an ongoing Russian military presence, most Transnistrians have Moldovan citizenship. The main ethnic groups are Russians, Moldovans, Romanians, and Ukrainians.
The Kuril Islands are a volcanic archipelago with 56 islands, currently under Russian administration. Japan has also claimed the islands, which has led to the ongoing dispute.
This dispute is the primary reason why Japan and Russia have never signed a peace treaty to formalize the end of World War II. The islands are known in Japan as the country's Northern Territories.
The chain of remote, energy-rich islands, known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, have long been a focus of territorial dispute between these two nations.
The US occupied the islands during World War II, but they have since been under Japanese administration. Japan claims the islands were vacant until 1895, when its government claimed them. China claims discovery and ownership since the 14th century.
The dispute over these islands intensified after oil and gas fields were found in 1968. Considering the growing power and assertiveness of China, many experts warn that the tension might escalate.
After the Japanese defeat in World War II, the island of Taiwan went back to China. However, the Chinese government itself was soon overthrown on the mainland by the People's Liberation Army of Mao Zedong, which took the name the People's Republic of China (PRC).
The nationalist government of Chiang Kai-shek went into exile on the island, which it continued to rule as the Republic of China (ROC).
While the PRC claims sovereignty over Taiwan, the ROC still regards itself as the legitimate government of China, on both the island and the mainland.
The former Spanish colony of Western Sahara has been in political limbo since Spain withdrew from the area in 1976. The Saharawis, the indigenous inhabitants of the region, have since fought for their independence from Morocco.
While it wasn't recognized internationally, Morocco has succeeded in annexing approximately 100,000 square miles (259,000 square km) of the resource-rich desert. A resolution still remains to be reached.
Technically, the Korean War never really came to an end. North and South Korea signed an armistice, but never a peace treaty.
The ongoing dispute is based on the division of Korea, between North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) and South Korea (Republic of Korea). Both claim to be the sole legitimate government of all of Korea.
Divided between India, Pakistan, and China, the territory of Jammu and Kashmir has been disputed since the British renounced control of the region in 1947. China entered the picture after the Sino-Indian War in 1962. Today, the Chinese control the regions of Aksai Chin and the Trans-Karakoram Tract.
The heavily militarized line of control has since pitted Indian and Pakistani forces against each other. The dispute has escalated into three wars and several other armed confrontations.
By the '90s, both India and Pakistan had declared themselves nuclear powers, causing further tensions in the region. Today they both claim the territory in full, even if they control only parts of it.
A number of countries made claims over Antarctica, but these claims haven't been recognized by the international community since the signature of the Antarctica Treaty in 1959.
The treaty forbade countries from taking possession of any part of Antarctica. However, seven countries, including Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway, and the UK, have claimed territory.
The current boarders of Africa are the result of the competition between colonial powers, such as Britain and France, for the control of the continent. During World War II, all the Somali territories were unified under British military administration, except French Somaliland. This continued until Somalia became independent in 1960.
However, during the civil war, the northern region of Somaliland declared its independence in 1991. The territory has remained unrecognized by Somalia and the international community.
See also: Bloodless wars with zero casualties
The most disputed territories in the world
Tensions between Israel and Palestine have developed into an all-out war
LIFESTYLE Geopolitics
Territorial disputes can last decades, if not centuries or more. Found across the world, they're complicated and almost always ever-changing. Some of these disputes are caused by rivalries between countries or peoples. But most of them often involve claims of historical ownership. And when it comes to a resolution, some of these disputes didn't even end in a decisive war. The losing side in a military defeat may simply refuse to relinquish its claim.
From Palestine to Crimea, click through the following gallery to read up on some of the most disputed territories in the world.