Looking at the recent history of the world, we find that borders are changing faster than we think, in an increasingly tense international context. Changes, of course, bring new challenges and instability. Here are the newest countries in the world. How many do you know?

1. 5 NEWEST COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD

2. INTRODUCTION
In 2014, the Scots were faced
with a big decision about the
direction of their region. If
they had decided to separate,
they would have become the
newest state in the world.
Looking at the recent history
of the world, we find that
borders are changing faster
than we think, in an
increasingly tense
international context.
Changes, of course, bring
new challenges and
instability.

3. I. SOUTH SUDAN
South Sudan is the newest
state in the world. It gained
independence on July 9, 2011,
separating itself from the
majority Arab provinces after
a civil war that lasted for
decades. The US also played an
important role in getting the
status.

4. II. KOSOVO
Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia on February
17, 2008. The area has been under UN administration since
1999 when NATO forced the withdrawal of Slobodan
Milosevic's troops from the strongly ethnicized province.
The state has not been recognized by all UN member states, and for
security reasons, it has not even asked to be part of the organization.
The major problems of this new state are weak economy, high
unemployment, and ethnic division.

5. III. MONTENEGRO
In 2006, Serbia and
Montenegro separated into
two states after proclaiming a
state union in 2003.
Montenegro's referendum
was decisive, with the people
voting for the end of the
union. Since independence,
Montenegro has applied for
the EU, entered the World
Trade Organization and
recalled the royal family from
exile.
Overall, the country has a
favorable evolution.

6. IV. EAST TIMOR
• East Timor gained
independence on May
20, 2002, although the
referendum that ruled
in favor of it was
organized years ago.
• But after that, the
region was subjected to
violence by pro-
Indonesian militias, and
the UN sent forces for
stabilization. But it was
too late, the Indonesian
punishment expedition
caused great human
losses and most East
Timor infrastructure
was destroyed.
• The country's evolution
is a good one, thanks to
profits from large oil
reserves.

7. V. SOUTH OSSETIA
• It is also worth mentioning South
Ossetia, a separatist zone in
Georgia whose independence
declared since 1990 was only
recognized in the Russian-
Georgian war in 2008 but only by a
small number of states such as
Russia, Nicaragua or Venezuela.
The state, therefore, has only a
very limited recognition, being one
of those gray areas of frozen
conflicts in the post-Soviet space.
Political dissensions and
precarious economic conditions
keep Ossetia in a permanent
tension.

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