Cuba – United States Maritime Boundary Agreement
Encyclopedia
The Cuba – United States Maritime Boundary Agreement is a 1977 treaty
between Cuba
and the United States
that set
the international maritime boundary
between the two states.
The treaty was signed in Washington, D.C.
on 16 December 1977. The treaty stated that the boundary
agreement was provisional for two years and would become permanent when both states had ratified
the treaty. The treaty was never sent to the United States Senate
for ratification. Despite this, the treaty has been cited in subsequent works as defining the maritime
distinction between the two countries.
In 2000, Newsmax Media
reported that the U.S. State Department
had implemented provisions of the agreement—including the transfer of some islands from the United States to Cuba—even though the treaty was never ratified by the United States.
Treaty
A treaty is an express agreement under international law entered into by actors in international law, namely sovereign states and international organizations. A treaty may also be known as an agreement, protocol, covenant, convention or exchange of letters, among other terms...
between Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
that set
Boundary delimitation
Boundary delimitation, or simply delimitation, is the term used to describe the drawing of boundaries, but is most often used to describe the drawing of electoral boundaries, specifically those of precincts, states, counties or other municipalities...
the international maritime boundary
Maritime boundary
Maritime boundary is a conceptual means of division of the water surface of the planet into maritime areas that are defined through surrounding physical geography or by human geography. As such it usually includes areas of exclusive national rights over the mineral and biological resources,...
between the two states.
The treaty was signed in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
on 16 December 1977. The treaty stated that the boundary
Border
Borders define geographic boundaries of political entities or legal jurisdictions, such as governments, sovereign states, federated states and other subnational entities. Some borders—such as a state's internal administrative borders, or inter-state borders within the Schengen Area—are open and...
agreement was provisional for two years and would become permanent when both states had ratified
Ratification
Ratification is a principal's approval of an act of its agent where the agent lacked authority to legally bind the principal. The term applies to private contract law, international treaties, and constitutionals in federations such as the United States and Canada.- Private law :In contract law, the...
the treaty. The treaty was never sent to the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
for ratification. Despite this, the treaty has been cited in subsequent works as defining the maritime
Ocean
An ocean is a major body of saline water, and a principal component of the hydrosphere. Approximately 71% of the Earth's surface is covered by ocean, a continuous body of water that is customarily divided into several principal oceans and smaller seas.More than half of this area is over 3,000...
distinction between the two countries.
In 2000, Newsmax Media
NewsMax Media
Newsmax Media is a conservative American news media organization founded by Christopher W. Ruddy and based in West Palm Beach, Florida. It operates the news website Newsmax.com and publishes Newsmax Magazine.Christopher W...
reported that the U.S. State Department
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
had implemented provisions of the agreement—including the transfer of some islands from the United States to Cuba—even though the treaty was never ratified by the United States.
External links
- Maritime Boundary Agreement: full text