A sovereign country entirely enclosed by land, or whose only coastlines lie on closed seas, is geographically classified as without direct access to the open ocean. Several examples exist across different continents, impacting trade and geopolitical relationships.
This characteristic often necessitates reliance on neighboring countries for maritime trade routes, potentially affecting economic development and political autonomy. Historically, these nations have faced challenges in participating directly in global commerce and asserting their presence in international maritime affairs, fostering unique patterns of cooperation and dependence.
