The Impact of Unilateral Actions of Nations in Developing the Concept of the Continental Shelf within the Framework of Customary International Law

Abstract

The established principle in public international law is that states abide by customary international rules related to the law of the sea, including those related to the rules of the continental shelf, without this being dependent on their will. When a customary international rule emerges, it will be binding on all states, whether these states have contributed to its formation and consented to it. Or not, in order not to create a disparity in the legal status of maritime states at a time when such a disparity should not exist within the scope of customary international law.                                                               

International unilateral actions on the subject of the continental shelf derive their international validity from their conformity and non-contradiction with the principles of international legal action in general, which are issued by a group of countries by adopting texts of similar legal legislation on the subject of the continental shelf, that is, by jointly adopting specific international legal rules. However, they remain like These texts are unilateral acts that have no legal effect vis-à-vis other countries unless they are gradually transformed into the ranks of rules Customary international rules on this subject, and thus it can be said that the legal framework provided by the customary rules on the subject of the continental shelf and its relationship with the official sources of international law cannot encompass all the legal rules that govern international relations at the present time, and the extent of the capacity of these unilateral actions and their role in forming customary international rules. Continental shelf.