Commentary on the judgment of July 13, 2023 of the international court of justice in the question of the delimitation of the continental shelf between Nicaragua and Colombia beyond 200 nautical miles from the Nicaraguan coast (Nicaragua v. Colombia)

Abstract

The International Court of Justice issued a judgment on July 13, 2023, dismissing the claim filed by Nicaragua against Colombia in the “Matter of the delimitation of the continental shelf between Nicaragua and Colombia beyond 200 nautical miles from the Nicaraguan coast (Nicaragua v. Colombia)". The dispute had the object of the Court delimiting, and therefore, recognizing, the extension of the Nicaraguan continental shelf, expanded based on the criterion of its natural prolongation, beyond 200 nautical miles measured from the baselines from which the extension of its territorial sea is measured, with the consequence of its overlapping with marine spaces under the sovereignty of the Colombian State. The judgment declares, applying customary international law, that the claimant has no right to extend its continental shelf below the zone of 200 nautical miles belonging to another State.