Could you build a city in international waters and then declare it a sovereign nation? I’ve read about proposals to do this; Aquarius, New Utopia etc. Now aside from the technical or cost, would you legally be able to do that?
I suppose so. I will have to give you the rather standard supply of Sealand although it is probably not on the scale that you had in mind.
When in doubt, consult the Master.
Robin
Ah, a Straight Dope perennial.
Yes, of course you can start your own country anywhere you like.
But no, of course no one except you will recognize that your country exists. Just because you’ve declared the north half of your bedroom Hadrianopolis doesn’t mean squat. The US government will ignore your claim. They won’t give you diplomatic immunity, they won’t excuse you from paying taxes, they will arrest you and invade your sovreign territory any time they please, subject only to the laws and customs of the United States.
The United States only exists because 250 million Americans say it does, and the rest of the world agrees with them. If everyone stopped believing that the United States existed, then it would stop existing. Since no one except you believes that your country exists, that is essentially the same as saying that your country does not exist.
I’ve always been amused by the Sealand folly. However I was doubly tickled when exploring that page, because their “Bureau of International Affaris” has a postal address “c/o Sealand Post Bag, IP11 9SZ”. That postcode is about half a mile from where I work. Bless 'em, they’re fully independent, apart from relying on the good folk of Ipswich to pass on their mail. :rolleyes: