Enclave << EHN klayv or AHN klayv >> is a territory belonging to one country but lying within the boundaries of another country. For example, Gibraltar is a British enclave on the coast of Spain (see Gibraltar). Enclaves were once common in Europe and other areas. In most cases, rulers permitted passage through their territory to the enclaves within it. Today, nations believe that the presence of foreign territories within their boundaries violates national sovereignty.
During the 1500’s and 1600’s, France and Portugal established several enclaves in India. India claimed these territories after it won independence from the United Kingdom in 1947. France surrendered its enclaves in 1954. But Portugal kept its enclaves until 1961, when Indian troops seized them. Today, the few remaining enclaves include the Spanish territories of Ceuta and Melilla, which lie in Morocco.
