Landlockedness

Definition. The geographical situation of a state that has no direct territorial access to the sea. Part of its maritime trade must therefore pass through the territory and infrastructure of one or more transit states.

Key points. Landlockedness does not mean economic isolation. It nevertheless increases the importance of agreements with neighbouring countries, transport infrastructure and transit procedures. For goods arriving by sea, foreign ports, roads, railways and border posts form part of the national logistics chain without falling under the territorial authority of the landlocked state. The effects of landlockedness vary according to the quality of the available infrastructure, the distance to ports, the number of possible routes and relations with transit states.