List of proposed state mergers


This is a list of proposed state mergers, including both current and historical proposals originating from sovereign states or organizations. The entities listed below differ from separatist movements in that they would form as a merger or union of two or more existing states, territories, colonies or other regions, becoming either a federation, confederation or other type of unified sovereign state.

Historic

Early modern period

19th century

20th century

21st century

Current proposals

Proposed stateComponentsFirst proposedNotes
United States
1867The idea for the United States to buy Greenland was first proposed during the administration of Andrew Johnson, when, in 1867, Secretary of State William H. Seward unsuccessfully proposed buying Greenland and Iceland from the Danish Kingdom. A post-World War II bid was also declined by Denmark. In 2018 and 2019, Donald Trump spoke to aides about acquiring the island; Greenlandic and Danish officials firmly rebuffed the suggestion that the island could be sold.

1917The proposed Canadian annexation of the Turks and Caicos Islands has been an ongoing political discussion between the two nations since Canadian Prime Minister Robert Borden first supported the idea in 1917.
Reunified India

1953Since the Partition of India, there have been multiple calls to reunite country by remerger of successor states.
Unified Korea
1953Korean reunification has been a goal for both Koreas since the 1953 armistice agreement. However, proposed strategies vary between the two Koreas, with both proposing unification under one sociopolitical system while abandoning the other, similar to German reunification.
Unified China
1979Unification of the territories of China and Taiwan is the nominal goal of both governments, who both operate under the One-China policy. However, within Taiwan, there is a large movement to formally declare a Taiwanese state, led by the Democratic Progressive Party, which is currently in government.
Unified Romania
1991Due to the revolutions of the Russian Empire, Bessarabia Governorate declared secession in 1917 as the Moldavian Democratic Republic and united unconditionally with the Kingdom of Romania in 1918, before the Soviet occupation in 1940. After Moldova gained independence following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, unification with Romania has been proposed which is supported by the Moldovan minorities according to polls and the Romanian Government. In 2018, Moldovan PM Pavel Filip ruled out reunification with Romania, despite growing calls from Moldovans for unification. See also Greater Romania.
Union State
1999Belarus and Russia signed an agreement to form the Union State in 1999, aiming to continue deeper integration, possibly until unification.





2004Proposed political union between the six member states of the East African Community. Federation was proposed in 2004, but in 2016 it was decided that confederation would be the short-term goal. South Sudan is not as integrated as the other five members, having only gained independence from Sudan in 2011.