The Doctrine of State Sovereignty holds that every State has supreme authority within its own territory and is legally equal to all other States.

This means freedom from external coercion or interference in internal affairs—so long as the State respects the sovereignty of others and complies with international obligations. Sovereignty is foundational, but it is not absolute: it is bounded by rules on non-intervention, non-use of force, and treaty commitments.

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High-yield in Public International Law. Commonly tested with non-intervention, use of force, proxy warfare, and treaty breach issues.

A frequent trap is treating sovereignty as a license for intervention or ignoring limits imposed by customary law and treaties.

Military and Paramilitary Activities in and against Nicaragua

(Nicaragua v. United States), ICJ Reports 1986.

Nicaragua alleged that the U.S. violated its sovereignty by training, arming, and supporting the Contras, conducting military attacks, unauthorized overflights, and mining Nicaraguan waters.

The ICJ held that these acts breached Nicaragua’s sovereignty, violated the principle of non-intervention and the prohibition on the use of force, and also breached the Treaty of Friendship, Commerce, and Navigation. The Court ordered the U.S. to cease the illegal acts and make reparations.

🥜 Backing rebels, attacking territory, or mining waters violates sovereignty and the ban on force—State power stops where another State’s sovereignty begins.