What defines a country?

A country is fundamentally defined by its geographic territory with defined borders. This characteristic establishes a physical space that distinguishes one nation from another. In international law and relations, the existence of fixed borders is crucial for sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the ability to exercise governance over the land and its resources.

While factors such as a governing body, a defined population, and cultural representation are essential components of a country's structure, they are secondary to the concept of geographic territory. Without defined borders, the concepts of citizenship, governance, and cultural identity would lack a spatial context, making it impossible to categorize a group of people as a country. Therefore, the geographic territory with defined borders is a primary defining feature of a country.