Dictionary of Meaning
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Belligerent
*** Shopping-Tip: Belligerent
A '''belligerent''' in
warfare is one of the sovereign power or, at times an insurgent force to the conflict; that is, one of the powers at war, in contrast to
neutral country neutral countries and
non-belligerents. In the written treaties of the
laws of war, no distinction is made between ''neutral countries'' or ''neutral powers'' and ''non-belligerents'' for the purpose of the application of those laws and the responsibilities of belligerents toward neutral countries and vice
A power not wanting to engage in a war, (i.e., become a ''belligerent'') but sympathizing with one of the belligerents, a sovereign power may declare itself a ''non-belligerent'' as more appropriate than ''neutral''; however if such a nation aids a belligerent in a way proscribed to neutral nations, they risk becoming belligerents themselves.
Notwithstanding, a distinction between ''neutral'' and ''non-belligerent'' has often been drawn by nations not directly involved in a conflict to describe their positions.
An interesting use of this term was used during the
American Civil War, when the
Confederate States of America, though
non-recognized nations not recognized as a sovereign state, was recognized as a ''belligerent power'', and thus Confederate warships were given the same rights as United States warships in foreign ports.
Belligerency
''Belligerency'' is a term used in
international law to indicate the status of two or more entities, generally
Sovereignty sovereign states, being engaged in a
war. A state of belligerency may also exist between one or more sovereign states on one side, and
insurgent forces on the other side, if such insurgent forces are treated as if they are a sovereign power. International law and practices require that belligerency between sovereign states should be preceded by a formal declaration of war prior to such warring states being treated as belligerent states under International law. Once the status of belligerency is established between two or more states, their relations are determined and governed by the laws of war.
Since the beginning of the crystallization of various concepts of international law, also called the law of nations, the concept of belligerency and the rights and duties of belligerent nations have continued to evolve and become codified. In the modern context, a number of regulations relating to belligerency were annexed to the
Hague Convention of
29th July 1899, pertaining to the laws and customs of war. The Convention contained a specific section named Belligerents which was divided into three chapters, dealing respectively with the following:
*The Qualifications of Belligerents
*Prisoners of War
*The Sick and Wounded
Category:Laws of war
