When has a sovereign state last given territory to another as a gift?

A sovereign state is like a big kid who owns a huge playground, and sometimes they give part of it to another kid as a friendly surprise.

What does "giving territory" mean?

Imagine you have a toy box full of toys, and you decide to give your friend half of it just because you're happy. That’s what giving territory means, one country gives land to another without needing to trade or fight for it.

When did this last happen?

The most recent time was in 2018, when France gave a small piece of land called Clipperton Island to Mexico. Clipperton Island is like a tiny toy, not very big, but still fun to own. France had owned it for a long time, but they decided to give it away as a kind gift.

It’s like if your friend gave you their favorite pencil just because they liked you, no need for a trade or a fight! A sovereign state is like a big kid who owns a huge playground, and sometimes they give part of it to another kid as a friendly surprise.

What does "giving territory" mean?

Imagine you have a toy box full of toys, and you decide to give your friend half of it just because you're happy. That’s what giving territory means, one country gives land to another without needing to trade or fight for it.

When did this last happen?

The most recent time was in 2018, when France gave a small piece of land called Clipperton Island to Mexico. Clipperton Island is like a tiny toy, not very big, but still fun to own. France had owned it for a long time, but they decided to give it away as a kind gift.

It’s like if your friend gave you their favorite pencil just because they liked you, no need for a trade or a fight!

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Examples

  1. A king gives a small island to his friend's kingdom as a thank-you.
  2. Two countries swap parts of their borders for friendly reasons.
  3. One country donates a piece of its coastline to another.

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