In an unprecedented move that has sparked interest among border dispute analysts and international communities, 20-year-old Australian Daniel Jackson has declared the creation of the Free Republic of Verdis, claiming a 125-acre forested area between Croatia and Serbia that is nestled along the Danube River. Jackson now claims to be the president of what he claims is the second-smallest sovereign nation in the world, after Vatican City.

The area has historically been referred to as “Pocket Three,” representing a group of residents who have lived in the disputed, ungoverned territory. With longstanding border complexities between Serbia and Croatia, the land Jackson occupies remains politically ambiguous, lacking clear ownership from either nation.

The micronation is said to comprise a population of 400, although these claims have yet to be independently verified. According to reports from The New York Post, Verdis has introduced several elements of statehood including a national flag, a functioning cabinet, its own currency, and has designated Croatian, Serbian, and English as official languages.

Jackson reportedly identified the territory in 2019 and gained significant traction online following his public declaration of independence. However, Croatian authorities have responded swiftly, detaining Jackson under national security provisions, rejecting the legitimacy of Verdis and warning against destabilizing the regional order.

This unusual declaration revives discussion around micronations, which are typically unrecognized by global governments but used as platforms for symbolic sovereignty, activism, or experimental governance. Jackson’s initiative reflects growing interest in borderless ideologies and raises critical questions about the status of terra nullius in international law.