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.
Many mergers throughout history have been involuntary forced annexations often through violent conquest, and those of such type (exceptions being unique examples such as the Indonesian invasion of East Timor where certain Timorese parties welcomed the annexation) will not be counted on this list, since they did not explicitly have the consent of both the conquering and conquered parties. However, personal unions, land purchases, and colonial mergers do qualify for this list.
Current proposals
Proposed state Component states Time period Notes Sometimes included: Central European Free Trade Agreement European Free Trade Association 1831–present Currently advocated for by Democrats 66, DiEM25, NEOS, Volt Europa, and other Eurofederalist parties. France Sometimes included: 1880–present Modern-day French politicians such as Jean-Pierre Chevènement, Nicolas Dupont-Aignan, Marine Le Pen, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, Jacques Myard, and Éric Zemmour have all voiced support for Rattachism. Economist Jacques Attali also supports it.Mélancolie française by Éric Zemmour Past politicians have also supported it, the most important of which being former President Charles de Gaulle.Alain Peyrefitte, C'était de Gaulle, éd. de Fallois, 2000, t. III, .
Walloon politicians who have at some point voiced support for the idea are , Daniel Ducarme, Claude Eerdekens, and Jean Gol. Samoa 1894–present Proposed unification of the two Samoas. Canada 1917–present The 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. Ireland 1921–present Part of the United Ireland movement. China (Taiwan Area)Also included: (SAR of the PRC) (SAR of the PRC) 1949–present Unification of the territories of the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China is the nominal goal of both governments, which both operate under the One-China policy. However, within the free area of the Republic of China, there is a sizeable movement to formally declare a Taiwanese state, led by the Democratic Progressive Party, which is currently in government. Sometimes included: 1950–present In 2017, the Cypriot Parliament passed a law to allow for the celebration of the 1950 Cypriot enosis referendum in Greek Cypriot government schools. Korea 1953–present Korean 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 both the German and Yemeni unifications. In January 2024, the supreme leader of the DPRK, Kim Jong Un called for amending the constitution to remove references to cooperation and unification, as well as defining the territorial boundaries of the DPRK and adding an article designating the Republic of Korea as the most hostile state. Isratineor Canaan (East Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip, and the West Bank) 1967–present Also known as the one-state solution, it is a proposed approach to create a bi-national state to resolve the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. India Sometimes included: 1972–present The concept of an Indo-Pakistani Confederation advocates for a political confederation consisting of the sovereign states of India and Pakistan as a means of ending bilateral conflicts and promoting common interests in defence, foreign affairs, and cultural and economic development. While this idea does not propose to end the sovereign existence of either nation through reunification, it is aimed to resolve the conflicts afflicting the subcontinent since the partition of India in 1947. Saint Martin Saint MartinSometimes included: 1990–present Proposed unification of the island. Romania Sometimes included: Gagauzia Transnistria 1991–present Due to the Russian Revolution, the 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 of Moldova and Romania has been proposed which is supported by the Moldovan minorities according to polls and the Romanian Government. Union State Sometimes included: 1999–present Russia and Belarus signed an agreement to form the Union State in 1999 aiming to continue deeper integration, possibly until unification. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has refuted this idea, declaring that any attempt to annex Belarus would result in war.Lukashenko warns annexation of Belarus would mean war East African Federation 2004–present Proposed political union between the eight 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, the DR Congo and Somalia are not as integrated as the other five members, as South Sudan only gained independence from the Sudan in 2011, the DR Congo joined the Community in 2022, and Somalia joined the Community in 2023. East Belgium / Eupen-Malmedy 2010–present Although over 71,000 people on the Walloon-German border speak German as their first language, the vast majority of Walloons are French speakers. Thus arises the possibility that, if Wallonia had become part of France, the German-speaking towns might have been absorbed by Germany. Sometimes included: Proposed integration of Lesotho with South Africa. West African Union Part of the UEMOA:Part of the WAMZ: 2019–present Proposed by Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara. United Turkic States Sometimes included: 2021–present General Secretary Baghdad Amreyev announced that the Turkic Council aims for a united state overseeing the Turkic world. 2023–present Proposed by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. Federation of Sahel States Currently a confederation.
Historical
Ancient period + Proposed state Components Time period Successful? Notes Kingdom of Israel ReubenSimeonLeviJudahDanNaphtaliGadAsherIssacharZebulunJosephBenjamin 1047–930 BC Twelve Tribes of Israel Latin League Alba LongaTusculumAriciaLanuviumLaviniumCoraTiburPometiaArdea 793–338 BC Roman–Latin warsLatin WarTim Cornell (1995). The Beginnings of Rome: Italy and Rome from the Bronze Age to the Punic Wars. Routledge. p. 293.Tim Cornell, (2000), The City-State in Latium, in Mogens Herman Hansen, A Comparative Study of Thirty City-state Cultures, page 213. Kgl. Danske Videnskabernes Selskab
Medieval period + Proposed state Components Time period Successful? Notes Carolingian Empire Kingdom of the FranksKingdom of the Lombards 800 Coronation of Charlemagne Kingdom of Leon Kingdom of Leon Kingdom of Asturias 910–924 Fruela II of Asturias Georgian Empire Kingdom of the IberiansKingdom of Abkhazia Kingdom of Kakheti-HeretiEmirate of Tbilisi1008–1490 Under King David the Builder and Queen Tamar the Great, Georgia was a regional power in the Caucasus and flourished culturally. North Sea Empire Kingdom of Denmark Kingdom of Norway Kingdom of England1013–1042 Under Cnut the Great, the country was the second most powerful in Europe after the Holy Roman Empire. Croatia–Hungary Union Kingdom of Hungary Kingdom of Croatia1102–15261527–1918 After a brief separation during Ottoman-Hungarian war, the union was restored on the Lands of the Hungarian Crown inner the Habsburg monarchy. Crown of Castile Kingdom of Castile Kingdom of Leon 1230 Treaty of Benavente Swiss Confederation 1307 Three cantons formed the initial Confederation in the 1307 Rütlischwur, followed by the 1315 Pact of Brunnen; ten more cantons joined over the life of the Confederacy. Hungary–Poland Union Kingdom of Poland Kingdom of Hungary1370–13821440–1444 Personal union between the Kingdom of Hungary and the Kingdom of Poland was achieved twice: under Louis I of Hungary, in 1370–1382, and under Władysław III of Poland in 1440–1444. An earlier union was also accomplished by Wenceslaus III of Bohemia for a few months in 1305, although he was heavily resisted by local nobles in both kingdoms, and gave up the Hungarian crown soon after. Kalmar Union Kingdom of Denmark Kingdom of Norway Kingdom of Sweden 1397–1523 The Kalmar Union was a personal union between the Kingdoms of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Established in 1397 under the rule of Queen Margaret I, the union aimed to create a single monarch ruling over these three kingdoms. Dual monarchy of England and France1422–1453 Treaty of Troyes consolidate the English claims to the French throne, but then Treaty of Arras (1435) reject it during Hundred Years' War.
Early modern period