tratatti

Tratatti is the Italian term for international treaties, and the plural form of trattato. In Italian, a trattato is a formal written agreement between states or international organizations that creates legally binding obligations. The plural "trattati" is used to refer to multiple such agreements. The term ultimately derives from Latin tractatus, via the Old French traité, reflecting its historical role as a negotiated instrument.

A trattato typically arises through diplomatic negotiations and is concluded by signature and, for most states, by ratification or accession. Ratification may require domestic approval. A treaty enters into force on a date specified in its text or after a threshold number of ratifications is reached. Once in force, a trattato binds its parties and may be amended, supplemented by protocols, or terminated by mutual consent, by breach, or by other specified remedies. Many trattati are published and registered with the United Nations Secretariat as a matter of public record, under the terms of the UN Charter’s Article 102.

Distinctions exist between trattati and other forms of international instruments; the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (1969) provides the core rules governing their creation, interpretation, and operation. Treaties can be bilateral or multilateral, covering areas such as peace, trade, environment, and security.

Famous examples of trattati include the Trattato di Westfalia (Treaty of Westphalia, 1648) and numerous contemporary arms-control, trade, and environmental agreements. The study of trattati—how they are made, interpreted, implemented, and terminated—forms a central part of international law and diplomacy.