To annex a country means for one state to forcibly acquire and proclaim sovereignty over the territory of another state, making that territory a permanent part of the annexing state. Annexation usually involves occupying the territory, often through force or coercion, and results in the annexed land being legally considered part of the annexing country. However, annexation is generally regarded as illegal under international law, particularly when it is carried out by force, as it violates sovereignty and the right to self-determination of the people living in the annexed territory.
Key Points About Annexation
- Annexation is a unilateral act where one state asserts control over another state's land.
- It often follows military conquest or coercion but can sometimes occur through treaties or resolutions.
- Annexation is distinct from occupation, which is temporary control without claiming sovereignty.
- The United Nations prohibits annexation by force since 1945, making such acts illegal under international law.
- Examples include historical annexations like Nazi Germany's annexation of Austria in 1938 and Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014, the latter condemned by the UN and many countries as illegal.
Thus, annexation means the formal incorporation of one country's territory into another, normally against the wishes of the people or government of the annexed country, often by coercion or military force, and is widely condemned by the international community.
