Politics

Outposts of Power: The Strange History of Countries Owning Territory Inside Others

Darren - June 6, 2025

Across the globe, pockets of foreign soil are scattered within national borders, remnants of centuries of conquest, treaties, and the peculiarities of geography. These curious territories—known as enclaves and exclaves—are small lands owned by one country but completely surrounded by another. Each has a unique story, shaped by rivalry, diplomacy, and sheer resilience. From colonial relics in Europe to outlandish border quirks elsewhere, these enclaves reveal how borders serve as both barriers and unexpected entry points into the tangled web of history.

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1. Ceuta (Spain in Morocco)

Ceuta stands as a striking example of a European foothold on African soil. This Spanish autonomous city, situated at the northern tip of Morocco, has changed hands through centuries of conflict and alliance. Originally captured by Portugal in 1415, Ceuta later came under Spanish control and remains a unique vestige of European colonial ambition. Its position at the gateway to the Mediterranean has long made it strategically valuable—and a source of ongoing tension with Morocco, mirroring the nearby British enclave of Gibraltar across the strait.

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2. Gibraltar (UK in Spain)

Gibraltar is a British Overseas Territory dramatically perched at Spain’s southern edge, overlooking the narrow strait to Africa. Held by Britain since 1713, “the Rock” combines iconic British symbols—like red phone boxes—with Mediterranean influences, creating a blend of cultures and allegiances. Spain has persistently staked claims to Gibraltar, fueling ongoing diplomatic friction. The outpost’s strategic importance at the Mediterranean’s entrance and its distinctive status echo the same sense of tension and symbolism that Ceuta holds for Spain and Morocco just across the water.

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3. Kaliningrad (Russia in the EU)

Kaliningrad is a striking Russian exclave set apart from the rest of Russia, nestled between Poland and Lithuania on the Baltic Sea. Once known as Königsberg, the city was German until the aftermath of World War II, when it became part of the Soviet Union in 1945. Today, Kaliningrad is a Russian stronghold entirely surrounded by European Union and NATO countries. This unique position ensures it remains a focal point for geopolitical tension and a reminder of the ever-changing nature of European borders.

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4. Llivia (Spain in France)

Llivia is a fascinating enclave: a Spanish town enveloped entirely by French territory. When the Treaty of the Pyrenees was signed in 1659, most villages in the Cerdanya region were transferred to France, but Llivia stayed Spanish because it was officially classified as a “town,” not a “village.” This seemingly minor legal distinction has survived for centuries, making Llivia a living example of how bureaucratic nuances can shape—and preserve—borders long after the treaties are signed.

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5. Baarle-Hertog and Baarle-Nassau (Belgium-Netherlands Mix)

The towns of Baarle-Hertog (Belgium) and Baarle-Nassau (Netherlands) create one of the world’s most complicated border puzzles. This area features dozens of Belgian enclaves inside the Netherlands, with Dutch enclaves nested within some of them. Borders run through gardens, cafés, and even living rooms—changing a house’s nationality from one room to the next. Baarle is a living example of how tangled medieval land rights and centuries-old treaties can produce wonderfully bizarre and enduring border arrangements today.

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6. Campione d’Italia (Italy in Switzerland)

Campione d’Italia is a small Italian exclave nestled on the shores of Lake Lugano, completely surrounded by Switzerland. Its roots trace back to the Diocese of Como, and it has remained part of Italy since unification, despite its isolation from the rest of the country. Intriguingly, Campione operates with Swiss francs, relies on Swiss infrastructure, and is more intertwined with Swiss daily life—yet its governance, laws, and identity remain unmistakably Italian.

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7. Nahwa and Madha (Oman and UAE)

Tucked inside the United Arab Emirates is Madha, an exclave belonging to Oman. But the intrigue deepens: within Madha lies Nahwa, a tiny village that is itself an enclave of the UAE. This counter-enclave—an enclave within an enclave—is a rare geopolitical oddity. The arrangement stems from a mix of tribal loyalties and the convoluted mapping of colonial times, turning this patchwork of borders in the Arabian Peninsula into a living testament to the region’s complex history.

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8. Vatican City (Holy See in Italy)

Vatican City stands as the world’s smallest independent state, completely enclosed by the city of Rome. Home to the Holy See, it serves as the spiritual and administrative heart of the Catholic Church. Its sovereignty was formalized through the Lateran Treaty of 1929, resolving centuries of disputes between the papacy and the Italian state. The Vatican’s existence as an enclave not only reflects unique religious significance but also the enduring complexity of church-state relations in European history.

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9. San Marino (San Marino in Italy)

San Marino is a picturesque microstate set atop the Apennine mountains, entirely surrounded by Italy. Founded in 301 AD, it proudly claims the title of the world’s oldest surviving republic. Despite its small size and Italian-speaking citizens, San Marino has maintained a staunch independence for centuries, weathering medieval invasions, the Italian unification, and both world wars. Its enduring sovereignty makes it a remarkable outpost of autonomy within the Italian peninsula.

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10. Lesotho (Lesotho in South Africa)

Lesotho is a rare example of a sovereign nation that is completely surrounded by another country—South Africa. This mountainous enclave preserved its independence through centuries of regional upheaval, from colonial expansion to the era of apartheid. Lesotho’s rugged landscape and strong cultural identity helped shield it from external domination. Today, its unique position shapes everything from cross-border trade to political relations, making Lesotho a fascinating study in survival and sovereignty amid a much larger neighbor.

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11. West Berlin (Historic: West Germany in East Germany)

West Berlin stood as a dramatic enclave of West Germany, completely surrounded by communist East Germany from 1949 to 1990. Encircled by the infamous Berlin Wall, it became an enduring symbol of the Cold War and Europe’s divided ideologies. The city’s unique position at the frontline of global politics made it a focal point for superpower rivalry. Though Berlin is now unified, the legacy of West Berlin illustrates how enclaves can become epicenters of geopolitical confrontation and historical change.

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12. Akrotiri and Dhekelia (UK in Cyprus)

Akrotiri and Dhekelia are British Sovereign Base Areas carved out on the island of Cyprus, maintained since Cypriot independence in 1960. These military enclaves provide the United Kingdom with a strategic foothold in the Eastern Mediterranean, supporting both regional operations and intelligence gathering. As some of the last remaining British overseas sovereign territories, Akrotiri and Dhekelia highlight the enduring legacy of Britain’s global military reach and the geopolitical importance of Cyprus in modern affairs.

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13. Büsingen am Hochrhein (Germany in Switzerland)

Büsingen am Hochrhein is a German town that finds itself entirely surrounded by Swiss territory, a consequence of intricate territorial swaps dating back centuries. Although it remains politically German, the town uses Swiss francs and aligns with many Swiss economic systems. Residents live within a fascinating blend of German governance and Swiss daily life, navigating dual sets of rules and cultural influences. This unique arrangement makes Büsingen a compelling case of how borders can simultaneously divide and connect communities.

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14. Cooch Behar Enclaves (Former: India-Bangladesh)

The Cooch Behar enclaves once formed a bewildering patchwork along the India-Bangladesh border, with over 160 enclaves—some containing even smaller enclaves within them. Known locally as chitmahals, these fragmented territories created immense confusion for residents, who often lived isolated from their own governments. In 2015, a historic land swap finally dissolved the enclaves, simplifying the boundary and ending decades of administrative chaos. The story of the Cooch Behar enclaves stands as a testament to the tangled legacy of colonial-era border decisions.

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15. Sokh (Uzbekistan in Kyrgyzstan)

Sokh is a striking Uzbek exclave nestled within Kyrgyzstan, yet it is predominantly inhabited by ethnic Tajiks. This odd configuration is a legacy of Soviet-era border drawing, which often disregarded the complex tapestry of local identities and geography. Today, Sokh’s isolation poses genuine challenges—making travel and communication difficult and fueling intermittent regional tensions. The enclave’s existence highlights the lasting impact of administrative decisions on the everyday lives of those caught between shifting borders.

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16. Dahala Khagrabari (Historic: India in Bangladesh in India in Bangladesh)

Dahala Khagrabari once held the title of the world’s only third-order enclave—an Indian enclave inside a Bangladeshi enclave, itself inside an Indian enclave, all surrounded by Bangladesh. This almost surreal geographic curiosity resulted from centuries of piecemeal treaties and local land disputes. Though the enclave was dissolved in 2015 during the India-Bangladesh land swap, Dahala Khagrabari remains a powerful example of the bizarre complexities that can emerge when borders are drawn without regard for logic or local realities.

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17. Treviño (Spain in Spain – Basque Country)

Treviño is an administrative enclave of Castile and León, completely surrounded by the Basque Country. While it doesn’t cross international borders, Treviño faces similar challenges as its global counterparts, with ongoing debates over governance, services, and regional identity. The enclave’s existence highlights how even internal boundaries within a country can generate cultural complexities and fuel disputes, making it a noteworthy case in the broader story of enclaves and exclaves.

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18. Temburong (Brunei in Malaysia)

Temburong is a unique exclave of Brunei, divided from the main part of the country by Malaysian territory. Historically carved out by colonial-era boundary agreements, Temburong is accessible either by crossing through Malaysia or via the impressive Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien Bridge. This separation shapes everything from daily commutes to the delivery of services. Temburong’s existence vividly demonstrates how the legacy of colonial borders continues to influence national geography and connectivity across Southeast Asia.

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19. Bir Tawil (No Man’s Land between Egypt and Sudan)

Bir Tawil presents an unusual geopolitical anomaly—a stretch of land between Egypt and Sudan that is claimed by neither nation. This “no man’s land” emerged from conflicting colonial-era borders, with Egypt and Sudan each favoring different boundary lines to support their claims over the more desirable Hala’ib Triangle. While Bir Tawil is not an enclave in the traditional sense, its existence underscores the ambiguity and oddities that can arise from historical border disputes and the legacy of colonial mapping.

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20. Jungholz (Austria in Germany)

Jungholz is an Austrian village surrounded on nearly all sides by Germany, connected to Austria itself by only a single geographic point—known as a quadripoint. This striking arrangement stems from complex medieval land deals and remains a geographical curiosity. Today, Jungholz’s unusual position attracts both geographers and curious travelers, serving as a vivid reminder of how historic agreements can create lasting and unique border situations in modern Europe.

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