Colombia Wins Territorial Dispute Against Nicaragua After Top UN Court's Ruling at The Hague

The International Court of Justice at The Hague, Netherlands sided with Colombia in its long-running maritime territorial dispute with Nicaragua. This is a maritime dispute over maritime borders and entitlements in the Caribbean Sea.

Nicaragua was bidding to gain economic rights to an area of the Caribbean Sea that lies over 200 nautical miles from its shores. However, that stretch of area is also being claimed by Colombia. With the ICJ ruling, this means that the area rightfully belongs to Colombia.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro and his country's team of lawyers celebrated the historic court win, posting on social media that the ICJ decision was "a great victory for Colombia in The Hague."

Petro, who is currently also dealing with communist rebels and the government's stalled peace talks with them, added that he hopes this ruling would end "the controversy over our borders, and we will now focus on the sustainable development of our archipelago."

According to the Associated Press, The Hague previously sided with Nicaragua back in 2022, granting the Central American country fishing rights to a large portion of the disputed area. However, the Colombian Navy still continues patrolling those waters, which are usually used as drug trafficking routes by the cartels.

The ICJ ruling meant that Colombia will be regaining control of seven disputed small islands in the area, in addition to some rich fishing grounds.

Colombia Vs. Nicaragua

While the ICJ sided with Nicaragua in 2022, giving the country fishing rights to the area, the country wanted more and argued that its territory should extend beyond the 200 nautical miles from its coastline as its territory should follow the continental shelf that extends under the sea from its coastline rather than what has been agreed on with international law.

Colombia argued against this, however, claiming that the area that Nicaragua wants overlaps with the archipelago of islands under its territory, according to Al Jazeera News.

"Irrespective of any scientific and technical considerations, Nicaragua is not entitled to an extended continental shelf within 200 nautical miles from the baselines of Colombia's mainland coast," said ICJ President Judge Joan Donoghue while reading the court's decision.

Colombia previously won a 2012 court battle against Nicaragua as well, and this initially awarded a large portion of the disputed territory to the country. While they do not share a land border, Colombia and Nicaragua find their maritime territory overlapping.

Nicaragua Says It Recognizes UN Court's Decision

As for Nicaragua's reaction regarding the ruling, despite having an authoritarian government, it seems that the country accepted the ICJ decision that favored Colombia.

Following the decision, the Nicaraguan government released a statement, saying that the country recognizes the court's ruling as "firm, definitive and mandatory."

According to Reuters, the dispute had been going on between the two Latin American countries since the early 20^th century. The disputed area is rich not only in fishing but in mineral resources as well.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: UN court rejects Nicaraguan claims in maritime spat with Colombia - Al Jazeera English