Treaty Termination

Introduction to Treaty Termination

Treaties may be terminated in various ways. The treaty itself may provide for its termination at a specified time or it may allow one party to give notice of termination, effective either at the time of receipt or following the expiration of a specified period. A treaty may be terminated by one signatory’s repudiation of its obligations; such a unilateral termination, however, may provoke retaliatory measures. A treaty may also be terminated by reliance on the principle rebus sic stantibus (“things remaining that way”), that is, when the state of affairs assumed by the signatory parties (when they signed the treaty, and therefore the real basis of the treaty), no longer exists, and a substantial change in conditions has taken place.” (1)

Resources

Notes and References

• Information about Treaty Termination in the Encarta Online Encyclopedia

Guide to Treaty Termination