Young Brit Declares Himself President, Opens Embassy for Verdis

A British man, Daniel Jackson, has taken the unusual step of declaring himself president of a self-proclaimed nation called the Free Republic of Verdis. This initiative began when he was just 14 years old and has recently culminated in the establishment of two embassies, one in his hometown of Dover, Kent, and another in Novi Sad, Serbia.

The idea for Verdis emerged after Jackson and his friends observed unclaimed land along the Danube River due to a border dispute between Croatia and Serbia. On May 30, 2019, Jackson officially declared the territory known as Pocket-3 as part of Verdis, which spans a mere 0.501 square kilometers—making it potentially the second smallest country globally, following Vatican City.

Establishing Diplomatic Presence

Both embassies, currently referred to as “representative offices,” are decorated with the Verdis flag and serve primarily to process identification cards and passports for individuals participating in the country’s e-residency program. This program aims to grant citizenship to those interested in becoming official members of the new nation.

Jackson shared his enthusiasm about the recent grand opening of the Serbian embassy, describing it as a success attended by notable guests and celebrated with champagne. “We have opened two embassies. They are still representative offices until the host countries recognize us,” he explained. “I spend a lot of time at the offices.”

Despite encountering significant challenges, including a ban from entering Croatia, Jackson remains optimistic about Verdis’ future. He claims that Croatian authorities have taken measures to prevent access to the land, describing the situation as that of a “government in exile.”

Progress and Challenges Ahead

Recently, Jackson made strides with Serbian officials, receiving citizenship just last week. He expressed confidence in Verdis’ persistence, stating, “We are still thriving. We are making a lot of progress, but we are still blockaded.” He pointed out that Croatia does not claim the land, which he believes supports their right to it.

The official languages of Verdis are English, Croatian, and Serbian, and the currency used is the Euro. Currently, the nation has around 400 official citizens and has attracted over 2,800 applicants for its e-residency program. Through crowdfunding and this initiative, Jackson reports that they have raised approximately £180,000 to advance the founding of Verdis.

Jackson, who identifies as both British and Australian, has dedicated himself fully to the venture, having left his previous job designing virtual worlds for Roblox. He emphasized that while the concept began as an experiment among friends, it has transformed into a serious endeavor.

“Verdis was an idea I had when I was 14. To the naked eye, it is just a lot of forest, but when you realize you are in a country you have created, it is magical,” Jackson noted. The ambition surrounding Verdis appears to resonate particularly with younger individuals, despite facing some criticism from ultra-nationalist groups.

In his vision for the future, Jackson plans to open a third embassy and continues to develop the nation’s identity, which includes creating a flag, a coat of arms, and establishing a full cabinet. As he noted, “I am not in it for the money; I only take enough to live. I am not keen on profiting off of it.”

Daniel Jackson’s journey to solidify the Free Republic of Verdis serves as a unique example of youthful ambition and the complexities of nation-building in the modern world.