What happens when a country disappears? Statelessness often follows conflicts or the dissolution of nations, but the situation becomes even more complex if a country sinks beneath the sea. This issue gained attention at the recent 2025 UN Ocean Conference in France, where Tuvalu’s Prime Minister Feleti Teo advocated for an international treaty addressing sea level rise. Such a treaty would protect the legal rights of affected states and ensure the continuity of their statehood and maritime boundaries.
Tuvalu faces an alarming future, with projections indicating that 95% of its land could be submerged by 2100. To combat this, Tuvalu has initiated the Falepili Union with Australia, a pioneering agreement that guarantees the rights and sovereignty of Tuvaluans even if their homeland becomes uninhabitable. Additionally, Tuvalu is exploring digital solutions, like creating a virtual replica of the nation, to preserve its culture and history.
An international treaty on sea level rise could extend these protections to all Small Island Developing States (SIDS), safeguarding their citizenship and rights. Currently, there is no framework for addressing statelessness in the event a nation’s territory vanishes, leaving citizens vulnerable. As rising tides already threaten many islands, proactive measures are crucial to ensure that maritime boundaries and rights are maintained, even as land disappears.
