Core Principles of International Law: Sovereignty and Equality

Political Independence and Nonintervention

International law obliges states to respect each other's political independence—their right to decide freely on internal and external affairs—within the limits of their international obligations. Every state has a duty of nonintervention in the affairs of others.

This duty prohibits pressure exerted by a state to force another to adopt or refrain from specific conduct within its jurisdiction. Such interference takes various forms, including:

• Threats or the use of armed forces
• Economic pressure
• Subversive activities
• Material support to revolutionary movements

Respect for Territorial Sovereignty

Every state has the right to have its sovereignty respected, meaning it holds full and exclusive competence to perform state functions within its territory. States must refrain from acts of coercion or the exercise of public authority within another state's territory without consent.

Acts that violate territorial sovereignty include:

• Armed invasion by foreign troops
• Violation of airspace by foreign military aircraft
• Unauthorized exercise of public power (e.g., judicial notifications, arrests, or embargoes)

Respect for State Honor and Dignity

International law mandates that states respect the honor and dignity of others. It is prohibited to insult or belittle the government, nation, or national symbols of a foreign state, such as:

• Flags
• National shields
• Official uniforms

States are also obligated to prevent and punish such acts committed by private individuals within their territory, provided those acts constitute a crime and exceed the bounds of protected freedom of expression.

The Legal Equality of States

The Charter of the Organization of American States (OAS) proclaims the principle of legal equality. As stated in Article 6, states are juridically equal, enjoying equal rights, capacity, and duties. The rights of a state do not depend on its power, but on its existence as a person of international law.

Two primary consequences derive from this principle:

1. All states possess the same fundamental rights and duties.
2. The enjoyment and exercise of these rights are independent of a state's effective power.