peace treaty

A peace treaty is a formal agreement to end a war. These agreements establish binding obligations between parties, primarily states and international organizations, under international law. While an armistice is an agreement to cease hostilities, it does not legally end a war. A peace treaty, however, formally concludes a conflict.123

The process of peacemaking often involves complex negotiations and can result in multiple treaties, as seen after World War I with the treaties of Versailles, Saint-Germain, Neuilly, Trianon, and Sèvres. Following World War II, the peacemaking process with Japan involved occupation policies aimed at demilitarization and democratization, leading to a peace treaty signed in 1951 that defined territorial renouncements and security arrangements.45