Top UN court agrees with Colombia in maritime border dispute against Nicaragua

By Laura Gamba

BOGOTA, Colombia (AA) – The International Court of Justice in The Hague (ICJ) ruled on Thursday in favor of Colombia in the last of the country's legal disputes against Nicaragua over their maritime boundaries and entitlements in the Caribbean.

"The Court concludes that the continental shelf that overlaps another State cannot be extended," said Joan Donoghue, the court's president, about the lawsuit that Nicaragua filed against Colombia before the court in 2013.

Nicaragua intended to extend its continental shelf into the sea beyond the 200 miles that usually delimits the sovereignty of countries. Colombia argued that this would interfere with the islands of San Andres and Providencia that belong to its territory.

Although the archipelago is roughly 68 miles from the Nicaraguan coast and about 440 miles from the Colombian coast, sovereignty over it belongs to Colombia, as was ratified by the court 10 years ago.

"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 Judge Donoghue as he read the decision.

The Latin American countries have disputed the area, which is filled with fishing and oil resources, for more than two decades at the UN's top court. Two previous rulings had been more favorable to Nicaragua, recognizing a greater maritime extension and its right to control fishing and other activities. However, it left the sovereignty of San Andres and Providencia in the hands of Colombia.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro traveled to the archipelago on Thursday, where he celebrated the decision.

"Great victory for Colombia in The Hague. The ICJ did not agree to Nicaragua's claims to expand its continental shelf," said Petro on Twitter. "With this ruling we hope to close the border dispute and focus on bringing sustainable development to our archipelago."

Carlos Arguello, representative of the Nicaraguan delegation, said in local media that the country "recognized the court's ruling as mandatory."

Thursday's resolution terminates Nicaragua's claims against Colombia before international tribunals for sovereignty over the historically disputed region.