stateagressie

Stateagressie, commonly translated as state aggression, is a term used in international law and politics to describe actions by a government or its armed forces that violate the sovereignty, territorial integrity, or political independence of another state. It typically refers to intentional, unlawful use of force or coercive measures that exceed what is permitted in self-defense or authorized by international law.

Legal definitions are anchored in the UN Charter: Article 2(4) prohibits the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of states. General Assembly Resolution 3314 (1974) outlines acts of aggression, including invasion, bombardment, occupation, and annexation. Aggression is a legal and political label that requires evidence and is often contested in specific cases.

State aggression involves a state actor using force or coercive measures against another state's sovereignty, and typically excludes non-state actions unless the state directly supports or directs them. It can take conventional military forms—invading, bombing, occupying—and coercive tools such as blockades, or, in contemporary debates, certain cyber operations.

Assessment and controversy: Whether a particular action amounts to aggression is often disputed by the states involved and by international observers. Proving intention and scale, and distinguishing aggression from self-defense or humanitarian interventions, is difficult. Historical examples include the 1990 invasion of Kuwait and the 2014 annexation of Crimea; ongoing debates surround various alignments today. Related topics include aggression, international law, sovereignty, and the use of force in international relations.