international comity

International comity refers to the courtesy and friendship between nations, marked by mutual recognition of their executive, legislative, and judicial acts. It is a concept rooted in the Latin word comitas, meaning friendliness or courtesy.12

While international law consists of binding rules governing state relations, international comity involves legally nonbinding practices adopted by states out of courtesy. It is distinct from international relations, which is a broader field encompassing all interactions between states. Comity is also recognized in legal contexts, where courts in one jurisdiction may acknowledge the laws and judicial decisions of another. This principle, akin to the Golden Rule, suggests that sovereign states should extend courtesies and privileges to each other.324