Severance of diplomatic relations: causes and consequences

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:45

The art of diplomacy is the highest form of communication between people. Between any states there is always a mass of large and small contradictions and competitive interests, which is always difficult to resolve them and establish more benevolent relations. And often the slightest conflict can be fraught with serious consequences. Let's talk about what it means to break off diplomatic relations between countries, what are the reasons for such actions and what are their possible consequences.

Diplomatic relations

The establishment of official relations between states is called diplomatic relations. This is a specific area of human communication. In 1961, all the states of the world signed a convention stating that diplomatic relations are established between subjects of international law by mutual agreement. For newly formed states, traditionally, the establishment of such interaction first needs to obtain legal recognition of the sovereignty and legitimacy of their existence. Establishing a relationship is mutualconfirmation of the non-hostile attitude of the two countries. The presence of diplomatic ties suggests that, even in the presence of contradictions, there is hope to find compromise solutions on various issues. The appearance of insoluble problems between states can lead to the fact that there will be a break in diplomatic relations.

Parties of diplomatic relations

The main actors in diplomacy are officially authorized representatives of state power, who are delegated the rights and obligations to establish interaction with the same representatives of another country. Such representatives can be:

- Permanent diplomatic representations, these can be embassies or missions. The main actors on behalf of the head of state are envoys and ambassadors. Embassies are considered the highest status diplomatic bodies, their opening in the country emphasizes the special significance of relations with it. Missions are a slightly lower level of relations, often missions are opened as a preliminary body before the appearance of the embassy.

- Consulates. This is a body that deals with the affairs of citizens of a country on the territory of another state. Usually, consulates are opened in addition to embassies in those countries where there are close interactions between the inhabitants of the states.

- Trade and cultural representations. They can be a subsidiary body in addition to the embassy, or they can perform independent functions to establishbetween countries of trade or cultural exchanges and interactions.

The policy of the state is carried out at the level of embassies and missions. Ambassadors can negotiate, convey the point of view of their government to the ambassador of the partner country. They can protest, defend the interests of their country and announce that there is a break in diplomatic relations.

The importance of diplomatic relations

It is not for nothing that diplomacy is often called an art. Settling the interests of different states is a very complicated matter. Maintaining diplomatic relations means that states continue to look for compromises on issues that cause controversy. All countries always pursue their own interests first. But since everyone has to reckon with their neighbors on the planet, the states try to maintain interaction until the very last moment. For example, Russia and the United States are clear antagonists and in many ways even opponents, however, despite the deepest contradictions, they continue the dialogue and do not allow an official break in diplomatic relations. The consequences of this step could be very sad for the whole world as a whole. For dialogue between countries, additional global platforms are being created, for example, the UN, within the framework of which countries are helped to find compromise solutions that would suit the entire community of the planet.

The concept of breaking diplomatic relations

Unresolved conflicts andcontradictions can lead the country to the fact that they officially announce the end of the interaction. In accordance with the Vienna Convention, the severance of diplomatic relations between countries is an official announcement by one of the partner countries of the termination of the dialogue. At the same time, representatives and ambassadors, members of their families must be taken home to their homeland. There is also a transfer of all the property of the embassies and the release of premises. At the same time, the intermediary state can protect the interests of citizens of the country breaking off relations. All these actions must be documented. The gap must be announced publicly so that all countries and the population know about the new state of affairs. At the same time, the state may permanently or temporarily recall its ambassadors, until some situation is resolved.

Reasons

The most common reasons for breaking off diplomatic relations are territorial conflicts. Many countries have claims to other states about some disputed lands. There are protracted conflicts that do not find their solution, but do not lead to a break in relations. For example, the dispute over Lake Constance between Germany, Austria and Switzerland. And there are disputes that are moving into the phase of hostilities, for example, Azerbaijan and Armenia, Lebanon and Syria. Wars may fade out periodically, but conflicts remain unresolved. Also, the reason for the recall of diplomats may be some undesirable behavior of another country. For example, the United States is withdrawing its ambassadors in an effort topressure on the policies of different states: Cuba, Iran. Ukraine has been threatening to break diplomatic relations with Russia for a long time over Crimea. The reason for the gap may be military operations in the country, which threaten the ambassadors and their families. So with the start of the fighting, many countries withdrew their ambassadors from Syria and Libya.

Functions for breaking diplomatic relations

Why do countries need to break off diplomatic relations? Most often it is used as a mechanism to put pressure on the opponent country. The recall of ambassadors usually causes widespread public censure, public organizations begin to intervene in the conflict, trying to remove it. All this has a strong psychological impact on the country from whose territory the embassies are being evacuated. An important function of this diplomatic action is precisely the creation of resonance. Increased attention of peacekeeping organizations can lead to a search for a solution to the problem situation. Any break in diplomatic relations is a demonstration of attitude and intentions. Often this is followed by other serious, unfriendly actions. Thus, this diplomatic move is like a "final warning".

Consequences

So what threatens the rupture of diplomatic relations? Often it is fraught with the outbreak of war. But more often than not, the recall of ambassadors is followed by various sanctions. For example, the United States, in a conflict with Cuba, after a break in relations, announced an embargo designed to cause huge economic damage to the country in order to break it. The US used the same tactic in Iran. Often the break in relations is temporary and the next step is to find compromises. Despite the loud name, the recall of ambassadors does not lead to a complete cessation of relations. Most cooperation agreements are terminated and this is the main consequence of such a diplomatic step. But relations between the citizens of the countries do not stop, the consulates continue to deal with their problems, help them return to their homeland if necessary. If the consulate is also liquidated, then the fate of citizens will be entrusted to third countries.

Examples

History of mankind knows many examples of termination of all agreements on cooperation. For example, the break in diplomatic relations between Russia and Great Britain in 1927, between England and Argentina because of the Falkland Islands, between the USSR and Israel, between Russia and Georgia.