List of territorial disputes


A territorial dispute is a disagreement over the possession or control of territories between two or more political entities.
Bold indicates one claimant's full control; italics indicates one or more claimants' partial control.

Ongoing disputes between UN member/observer states

Americas

South America

TerritoryClaimantsNotes
Guyana west of the Essequibo River and Ankoko Island'
Approximately two-thirds of Guyana's sovereign territory is claimed by Venezuela. Following arbitration, a demarcated border was established in 1905 following the Arbitral Award of 1899 but was later contested by Venezuela in 1962 following the publication of the Mallet-Prevost memorandum. The crisis was renewed recently following the discovery of oil deposits.
Arroyo de la Invernada or Rincón de Artigas and Vila Albornoz'
Dispute in the Invernada River region near Masoller, over which tributary represents the legitimate source of the Quaraí River/Cuareim River. The UN does not officially recognize the claim.
Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands'
See Falkland Islands sovereignty dispute and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands sovereignty dispute.
French Guiana and Suriname involving the Maroni River'
The source or tributary of the Lawa River between Suriname and French Guiana is disputed but eventually follows to the tripoint with Brazil. The Netherlands, and now Suriname, contends that the boundary follows the Malani River to the east, while France asserts that the border follows the Litani River to the west.
New River Triangle (Tigri Area) involving the Courantyne River and the New River'
The New River Triangle is a region within the Guiana Highlands that has been disputed by Suriname and Guyana since the 19th century. It involves the Courantyne River and the interpreted source of the river. In 1871, the New River was discovered, questioning the boundary between the two states.
Isla Brasilera/Ilha Brasileira'
Uruguayan officials claim that the island falls under their Artigas Department.
Isla Suárez/Ilha de Guajará-mirim'
An island in the river Rio Mamoré that serves as a border between Bolivia and Brazil, alongside the other 80 islands that are not assigned to any country. Isla Suárez is geographically closer to Bolivia, however economically dependent on the Brazilian city of Guajará-Mirim. Both countries signed a treaty in 1958 that keeps the island in a status quo.
Southern Patagonian Ice Field
From Mount Fitz Roy to Cerro Murallón the border remains undefined, while in the zone of Murallón and Cerro Daudet both countries already defined a border in 1998, but their respective cartographies differ.
Isla Santa Rosa'
A small island in Amazon River near Colombian city of Leticia. It emerged around 1970, and was administered by Peru since then. In 2025, Colombian government argued that the treaties set the boundary between the two countries at the deepest point of the Amazon River, and that islands like Santa Rosa have emerged on the Colombian side of that dividing line.

Antarctica

The Antarctic Treaty, formed on 1 December 1959 and entered into force on 23 June 1961, is a key component for the management of Antarctica and helps provide administration for the continent, which is carried out through consultative member meetings.
TerritoryClaimantsAntarctic territory
Area between 25°W and 53°WArgentina

Asia

TerritoryClaimantsNotes
Mazraat Deir al-Ashayer'
Syria|revolutionnowrap|'

IRNARETHAMYS

Europe

TerritoryClaimantsNotes
Crimea
In 2014, Russia Annexation of [Crimea by the Russian Federation|annexed] the Crimean Peninsula in a disputed referendum. Russian ownership of Crimea is recognized by a minority of countries. The General Assembly Resolution 68/262 by votes 100 "in favor", 11 "against", 58 "abstained" and 24 abstentions noted that Crimea was part of Ukraine. Nonetheless, Crimea is practically a de facto subdivision of Russia as most of the control is in Russia's hands. Russia and Ukraine both divide Crimea into two subdivisions, including a "republic" and the independent city of Sevastopol.
Donetsk Oblast''Ukraine

Ongoing disputes involving states with limited international recognition

TerritoryClaimantsNotes
Abagaitu Islet
''ChinaROC