The Land and Maritime Delimitation of the Court of The Hague in the Affairs of Costa Rica v. Nicaragua, in Light of Their Proposals (February 2, 2018)

Abstract

Costa Rica and Nicaragua, that rarely reach direct agreements, had not delimited the maritime areas in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, nor the land boundary in the northern part of Isla Portillos. Thus, Costa Rica first initiated an action in the International Court of Justice in 2014 regarding the maritime issue, and later, in 2017, requested the definition of the land boundary of that area in Isla Portillos and that it be noted that Nicaragua had set up a new military camp on its beach. This text – in view of the parties’ proposals - will analyze the recent judgment of the Court in the joined procedures, studying the proceedings followed, the relevant geography and history, the theses of the Parties and the reasoning of the Court.

Keywords

• international court of justice
• res judicata
• territorial and maritime delimitation
• methodologies to delimit territorial sea
• exclusive economic zone and continental shelf