Boundaries

In the interaction between States, boundaries continue still in today’s globalized world to be ‘the persistent and the preferred paraphernalia of international political life’ (I Brownlie, ‘Geographical Themes in International Law’ in Hacia un nuevo orden internacional y europeo (Technos 1993) 137, 138). It is no surprise that the delimitation of the territorial scope of states through boundaries remains of great significance in a legal system which has made the ‘principle of the exclusive competence of the State in regard to its own territory … the point of departure in settling most questions that concern international relations’ (Island of Palmas (Netherlands/United States) (1928) 2 RIAA 838). International law nevertheless does not impose on States a requirement of having defined boundaries. Nor is there a requirement that States must possess defined boundaries to be considered as subjects of international law. Uncertainty as to boundaries does not affect territorial rights; there is ‘no rule that the land frontiers of a State must be fully delimited and defined’ (North Sea Continental Shelf (Federal Republic of Germany/Denmark; Federal Republic of Germany/Netherlands), ICJ Rep 1969, p. 32, para 46).