nabolandene

Nabolandene is a Norwegian term that refers to a country’s neighboring lands or states with which it has close geographic or political proximity. The concept is commonly used to describe the set of countries with which a nation maintains more direct interactions, compared with more distant states. It is not a formal category in international law, but a practical one used in diplomacy, media, education, and regional planning.

Scope and criteria for who counts as a naboland can vary by context. Typically it includes states that share land borders or lie within immediate maritime proximity, as well as countries linked by shared regional arrangements or long-standing ties. In Nordic and European discussions, nabolandene often encompass neighboring states such as those adjacent by land or sea, and sometimes those connected through significant cross-border cooperation or common institutions. The exact list can change with border delimitation, territorial waters, or shifts in policy emphasis.

Functions and implications: identifying the nabolandene helps frame foreign and security priorities, economic and energy corridors, and cross-border cooperation on transport, environment, and public health. Relationships with nabolandene influence treaty discussions, border controls, migration policies, and regional initiatives. In practice, the concept highlights the importance of neighboring countries in shaping a nation’s broader regional strategy, while acknowledging that the set of neighbors is context-dependent and subject to change over time.