A blockade is an act of war where one party blocks entry to or departure from a defined part of an enemy’s territory, usually its coasts. Blockades are regulated by international law and custom and require advance warning to neutral states, impartial application, and effective and continuous maintenance (the blockading party must have adequate forces in place to intercept the bulk of incoming and outgoing traffic). It is insufficient for a belligerent to simply declare a country to be under blockade (a so-called “paper blockade”) if it lacks the power to enforce it on a consistent basis.
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