What are neighboring states?

Neighboring states or neighbouring states are states that share a common boundary. They may be contiguous or non-contiguous. Contiguous states are those that share a land border, while non-contiguous states are those that share a maritime border or a common frontier with a third country.

The term "neighboring states" is often used in a political context to refer to countries that have close relations and common interests. For example, the United States and Canada are considered neighboring states, as they share a long border and have close economic and political ties.

In some cases, neighboring states may have conflicts or disputes over territory or other issues. For example, India and Pakistan are neighboring states that have a long-standing dispute over the Kashmir region.

The concept of neighboring states is also used in international law, where it is often defined in terms of proximity or adjacency. For example, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea defines neighboring states as "states whose coasts are opposite to each other or adjacent to each other."