Geography

Independent countries are countries that are self-governed and do not rely on any other country for their governing laws or regulations. They have full control over their own internal and external affairs, including banking, trade, defense, and foreign policy. Independent countries can also enter into agreements with other nations to form alliances or treaties. Examples of independent countries include the United States of America, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, India, China, South Africa, and Australia. Dependent countries are those that are not completely independent from another country or group of countries. Dependent countries may be under the influence of a larger power through political agreements or economic ties. These agreements can include financial aid or military protection from a larger power in exchange for certain political favors or economic activities such as trade agreements. Examples of dependent countries include many African nations that rely heavily on foreign aid from Europe or the US to meet their basic needs such as food and healthcare. Other dependent nations may be members of regional organizations like the European Union where they must adhere to certain regulations in order to maintain membership status. In addition to this distinction between independent and dependent nations based on their level of autonomy there is also the concept of semi-independent nations which can be considered both independent and dependent depending on the context. Semi-independent nations may have some degree of autonomy but may also be heavily influenced by a larger state such as in a colonial relationship with a former imperial power or through an agreement with another nation such as a mutual defense pact between two states without full independence for either one. Examples of semi-independent nations include Puerto Rico which is part of the United States but has limited autonomy over its own internal affairs in exchange for access to US markets and military protection; Greenland which is part of Denmark but has its own government; and Hong Kong which is part of China but has significant autonomy over its own affairs due to an agreement between China and Britain when it was handed back from British control in 1997. Overall there is no hard line between independent and dependent states due to varying degrees of autonomy granted by different international agreements so it is important to consider each nation’s individual circumstances when assessing their independence status.