International Treaties

International Treaties#

Reference of major multilateral treaties and conventions an operator may meet in policy, intelligence, sanctions, and compliance work. Categorized by domain.

For sanctions regimes, see Sanctions Lists. For intelligence agencies / cooperation, see Intelligence Disciplines.

Security & alliances#

Treaty

Notes

NATO Treaty (1949)

Article 5 collective defense; 32 members (+ Sweden 2024).

ANZUS (1951)

Australia + NZ + US (NZ suspended since 1986).

Rio Treaty (1947)

Inter-American mutual assistance.

SCO Charter (2001)

Shanghai Cooperation Organization; 10 members.

CSTO (2002)

Russia-led collective security; 6 members.

US-Japan Security Treaty

1960; renewed.

Compact of Free Association

US + Marshall Is. + Micronesia + Palau (renewed 2024).

Five Power Defence

AU, MY, NZ, SG, UK (1971).

Arms control / non-proliferation#

Treaty

Notes

NPT (1968)

Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons; 191 parties; IAEA safeguards. India / Pakistan / Israel / DPRK non-signatories or withdrew.

CTBT (1996)

Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty; not in force (8 Annex 2 states yet to ratify); CTBTO IMS operates.

TPNW (2017)

Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons; entered force 2021; nuclear states reject.

START / New START

US-Russia bilateral nuclear arsenal limits; New START suspended by RU 2023.

INF Treaty (1987)

US withdrew 2019.

ABM Treaty (1972)

US withdrew 2002.

Open Skies (1992)

US + RU withdrew 2020 / 2021.

CFE Treaty (1990)

Conventional Armed Forces in Europe; RU suspended 2007.

BWC (1972)

Biological Weapons Convention; 184 parties; no verification regime.

CWC (1993)

Chemical Weapons Convention; OPCW verifies; 193 parties (DPRK, Egypt, S. Sudan, Israel signed-not-ratified).

APMBC / Ottawa Treaty

anti-personnel mine ban (1997).

CCM (2008)

Cluster Munitions Convention.

ATT (2014)

Arms Trade Treaty.

Wassenaar Arr.

multilateral export control regime; conventional + dual- use.

Australia Group

chemical / biological non-proliferation.

MTCR

Missile Technology Control Regime.

NSG

Nuclear Suppliers Group.

Hague Code of Conduct

HCOC; ballistic missile transparency.

Economic / trade#

Treaty

Notes

WTO Agreements

multiple; 1995; 164 members.

USMCA (2020)

replaced NAFTA; US, Canada, Mexico.

RCEP (2022)

Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership; ASEAN + AU, CN, JP, KR, NZ.

CPTPP (2018)

11 Pacific signatories; UK joined 2024.

EU Treaties

TEU + TFEU (Lisbon 2009); single-market basis.

EEA Agreement

EU + IS, LI, NO.

EFTA Convention

Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland.

Mercosur (1991)

AR, BR, PY, UY (+ associated members).

AfCFTA (2021)

African Continental Free Trade Area; 54 signatories.

AGOA

US-Africa preferential market access.

Cotonou / Samoa

EU-ACP agreements.

GSP

Generalized System of Preferences (US, EU, others).

Human rights#

Treaty

Notes

UN Charter (1945)

foundational.

UDHR (1948)

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (declaration, not treaty).

ICCPR (1966)

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

ICESCR (1966)

Economic, Social, Cultural Rights.

CAT (1984)

Convention against Torture.

CRC (1989)

Convention on the Rights of the Child; US is the only non-party.

CEDAW (1979)

Discrimination against Women.

CERD (1965)

Racial Discrimination.

CRPD (2006)

Persons with Disabilities.

ICRMW (1990)

Migrant Workers.

CPED (2006)

Enforced Disappearance.

Geneva Conventions

1949 + Additional Protocols 1977 / 2005; IHL foundational.

Rome Statute (1998)

ICC (International Criminal Court); US, Russia, China, India non-parties.

Convention on Refugees

the Refugee Convention (1951); 1967 Protocol.

Environment / climate#

Treaty

Notes

UNFCCC (1992)

Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Kyoto Protocol

1997; first commitment 2008-12; Doha Amendment 2013-20.

Paris Agreement

2015; nationally-determined contributions; goal 1.5 °C.

Montreal Protocol

1987; ozone-layer-depleting substances; success story.

Vienna Convention

1985; ozone framework.

CITES (1973)

endangered species trade.

Ramsar (1971)

wetlands.

CBD (1992)

biological diversity.

Stockholm Conv.

persistent organic pollutants (POPs).

Rotterdam Conv.

hazardous chemicals trade (PIC).

Basel Convention

hazardous waste transboundary movement.

Minamata Conv.

mercury (2013).

UNCLOS (1982)

Law of the Sea (US has not ratified).

Cyber / digital#

Treaty

Notes

Budapest Conv.

Convention on Cybercrime (2001); 76 parties as of 2024;

on Cybercrime

Russia + China non-parties.

2nd Additional Protocol

enhanced co-operation (2022); slow ratifications.

UN Cybercrime Convention

new UN treaty adopted 2024; controversial.

GDPR Adequacy Decisions (EU)

per-country adequacy decisions for data transfer.

EU-US Data Privacy Framework

2023 successor to Privacy Shield + Safe Harbor.

Convention 108+

Council of Europe; data protection.

Maritime#

Treaty

Notes

UNCLOS (1982)

ship navigation, EEZ, continental shelf.

SOLAS (1974)

Safety of Life at Sea; IMO.

MARPOL (1973/78)

marine pollution.

STCW

seafarer training.

IMSBC, IMDG

dangerous-goods transport at sea.

SUA Conv.

unlawful acts against maritime navigation; piracy.

Polar Code

IMO; Arctic / Antarctic ships.

Aviation#

Treaty

Notes

Chicago Conv. (Civil Aviation)

1944; ICAO foundational.

Tokyo / Hague / Montreal Conv.s

offences aboard aircraft; hijacking.

Open Skies agreements

civil-aviation bilateral / multilateral.

Operator notes#

  • Signed vs ratified, a state’s obligations differ; signing signals intent, ratification binds.

  • Reservations / declarations can substantially reshape what a state has agreed to; always check the treaty text + the depositary’s status table.

  • Customary international law evolves alongside treaties; some norms (CIL on torture, genocide) bind regardless of treaty membership.

  • Withdrawal mechanics, typically 12 months’ notice; varies by treaty.

  • MLATs are slow; informal channels (24/7 networks at G7, INTERPOL, Council of Europe) handle urgent requests.

References#

Contents