Territorial disputes have always been and always will be. Several centuries ago, such issues were decided exclusively by the right of the strong. It is enough to flip through the history textbook to discern behind the major wars the mercantile aspirations of countries to take possession of rich or strategically important regions.
Today, conflicts of this kind can often be resolved by diplomatic measures, since any confrontation of just a couple of strong powers is fraught with a violation of stability in the entire region. But diplomacy doesn't always work. Take a look at these tiny patches of land: the struggle for each of them may well serve as a pretext for a new world war.
Senkaku Islands - China and Japan
China also defends its interests in the East China Sea: the Senkaku Islands have become a bone of contention for eternal enemies, China and Japan. In 2010, the diplomatic confrontation nearly escalated into a serious military crisis - and all because of one Chinese fishing trawler in the region.
North Pole - Russia, Canada, Denmark and the USA
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Now that the Arctic ice is melting and the Northwest Passage is already open to commercial, scientific and military vessels, a number of countries have made claims to the North Pole. Russia has planted its flag on the seabed just below the Pole, Canada is about to start mining, and Denmark has said that Greenland's continental shelf connects to a ridge that runs under the Arctic Ocean. The US Geological Survey has estimated oil and gas deposits at the North Pole at 22% of all world reserves - and, of course, America is also taking part in this icy confrontation.
Hans Island - Denmark and Canada
Since the 1980s, the Danes and Canadians have fought passively aggressively for the island of Hans. The conflict escalated in 2000, when the Danish fleet landed a special forces group on the island, which promptly planted the Danish flag here. Opponents waited for an answer for five whole years: the flag of Canada appeared on the top of the island in 2005, and the operation was carried out under the cover of military boats. At the moment, both sides are taking all measures to resolve the issue exclusively by diplomatic methods.
Jammu and Kashmir - India and Pakistan
Once upon a time the British Empire ruled here - now Jammu and Kashnir are parts of India, Pakistan and China. The disputed territory turned into a strategically important point only in 1998: Pakistan technologically began to catch up with India and both countries conducted public tests of nuclear weapons here. The political situation remains extremely unstable: there is no need to fear an open military conflict, but tension in the region is only growing.
Golan Heights, Gaza Strip and West Bank, Palestine - Israel and Syria
Geographic areas contested by Israelis and Palestinians are tiny bits of land. But in these latitudes they cling to a meter of barren desert. Blood is spilled here on a routine basis: dozens of Palestinians and Israelis are killed every week. The Golan Heights, among other things, are also challenged by Syria, although at the moment it has enough internal problems.
Western Sahara - Morocco and Spain
The former Spanish colony of Western Sahara in northwest Africa is in a state of political uncertainty. Spain withdrew from the area in 1976, which Morocco immediately took advantage of, annexing about 259,000 square kilometers, quite rich in natural resources. This action was not recognized internationally, which does not prevent enterprising Moroccans from continuing to extract minerals. The last clash happened in 2010: several people were killed as a result of fierce fighting between Moroccan security forces and demonstrators.
Taiwan - Taiwan and PRC
Perhaps the most surprising conflict on our list. The fact is that the PRC considers itself the sole legal successor of the Republic of China, formed in 1912. The same opinion is shared by Taiwan, which is formally an administrative unit of the PRC, which in practice has never controlled this territory. The situation is complicated by political language: both countries adhere to the position of "there is only one China." International recognition of Taiwan will mean automatic non-recognition of the PRC.
Falkland Islands - Argentina and UK
The territorial dispute between England and Argentina has been going on since the time of the Spanish Empire. The first military clash took place on April 2, 1982: a special operation allowed Argentina to seize control of the Falklands. However, Great Britain solved the problem as quickly and simply as possible - part of the country's fleet was sent to the islands with an order to return them by force. Argentina was defeated, but continues to state its territorial claims.
Northern Kosovo - Serbia and the Republic of Kosovo
Northern Kosovo is still under UN protectorate. The region remains extremely unstable: in addition to a militarized garrison of peacekeepers, the government of the partially recognized Republic of Kosovo operates here. None of the parties to the conflict has a real opportunity to subjugate the disputed territory - all because of the same peacekeepers.
Paracel and Spratly Islands - China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia, Philippines and the United States
Several countries are at once engaged in fierce disputes over the territorial affiliation of the group of islands located in the South China Sea. The Paracel Islands remain the object of the claims of China, Taiwan and Vietnam, and the Spartli Islands cannot be divided among themselves by several ASEAN member countries: Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and again Vietnam. At the same time, the United States seeks to protect its commercial and military interests in the area. America needs a guarantee that the region's routes remain open; China, on the other hand, interprets Western pressure as incompetent. To date, there have already been several armed conflicts involving Vietnam and Malaysia, and the situation remains very tense.