What happens when a country violates international law?

When a country violates international law, it incurs international responsibility. This means the state is liable for breaches of its obligations, provided the breach is attributable to the state itself. Such violations can include breaking a treaty or infringing upon another state's territory.1

A state is also responsible for actions taken by its internal institutions, entities exercising governmental authority, or individuals acting under its direction or control, even if they exceed their authority. Furthermore, a state can be held responsible for private activities if it subsequently adopts them.1

If a state is found responsible for an illegal act, it must provide full reparation for any injury caused. Reparation can include restitution, compensation, or satisfaction, such as an acknowledgment and apology for the breach. In cases of serious breaches of peremptory norms of international law, all states have an obligation not to recognize the situation and to cooperate in ending it.1

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations and passes judgment on disputes between sovereign states. However, the court has no enforcement powers; if a party fails to comply with a judgment, the other party can seek recourse through the UN Security Council. Economic sanctions, such as trade restrictions and asset freezes, are also common responses to violations of international law.23