UNCLOS, 1982
Legal Basis for Freedom of Navigation
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), often called the "constitution of the oceans," codifies the legal regime for the seas, including the freedom of navigation and overflight on the high seas, sovereign rights of coastal states over their Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and mechanisms for peaceful dispute settlement. Freedom of navigation for commercial shipping — the exact principle India invoked — is a core UNCLOS guarantee.
- UNCLOS was adopted on 10 December 1982 and entered into force on 16 November 1994
- India signed the Convention in 1982 and ratified it on 29 June 1995
- Coastal states hold sovereign rights for exploration/exploitation of resources within a 200 nautical mile EEZ, but must permit freedom of navigation for all states through the EEZ and high seas
- UNCLOS governs the legal status of straits used for international navigation (e.g., transit passage rights), which is directly relevant to global "choke point" security
● Tracked since July 12, 2026 · last seen August 26, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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