tregua

Tregua is a term used in Portuguese and Spanish to denote a temporary cessation of hostilities agreed by two or more opposing parties. It is intended to create space for negotiation, humanitarian relief, de-escalation, or a limited transition period during a conflict. A tregua is typically voluntary and time-bound, and its terms may include designated zones of safe passage, restrictions on certain weapons, and conditions for verification.

Legal and practical frameworks vary. While not universally binding like a formal treaty, truces can be part of international humanitarian law or negotiated ceasefire agreements, often monitored by third parties such as the United Nations, neutral states, or humanitarian organizations. Violations can undermine trust and lead to the resumption of fighting, though truces may be renegotiated or extended.

Distinctions: a truce is generally temporary and may be part of larger negotiations; a ceasefire is a broader, usually formal halt; an armistice is a more comprehensive cessation typically followed by peace talks. In practice, the terms are sometimes conflated, and the exact meaning depends on the agreement's language.

Notable examples include the Christmas Truce of 1914 during World War I, when some Allied and Central Powers troops halted fighting and shared moments of ceasefire in the trenches. More recently, truces have appeared in long-running conflicts as confidence-building measures or humanitarian pauses.

See also: ceasefire, armistice, mediation, humanitarian corridor, peace talks.