Why Liberland Should Ratify Key International Treaties
Introduction
Founded by Vít Jedlička in 2015, the Free Republic of Liberland claims a 7 km² parcel of disputed land along the Danube River, leveraging its status as terra nullius due to conflicting Serbia-Croatia border claims. Liberland’s Constitution establishes a minimal state with a Bill of Rights guaranteeing freedoms of speech, property, and association, supported by blockchain-based governance and voluntary contributions instead of taxation. As of August 31, 2025, Liberland remains unrecognized, facing physical and legal barriers to establishing a presence on its claimed territory. Ratifying international treaties offers a pathway to demonstrate state-like capacity, aligning with the Montevideo Convention’s criteria for statehood: a permanent population, defined territory, effective government, and capacity for international relations. This article argues that ratifying treaties that prioritize individual liberty, non-aggression, and free markets can advance Liberland’s legitimacy, protect its citizens, and foster economic ties, all while adhering to its libertarian ethos.
The Libertarian Case for Treaty Ratification
Libertarianism emphasizes individual sovereignty, non-aggression, property rights, and voluntary associations, often viewing international treaties with caution due to potential supranational overreach. However, certain treaties reinforce these principles by limiting state violence, enabling peaceful cooperation, and promoting free exchange. For Liberland, ratification serves three key purposes: signaling commitment to global norms to attract recognition, safeguarding citizens from external pressures, and facilitating economic growth through trade and arbitration.
Liberland’s Constitution grants the President authority to sign treaties, which must be approved by Congress and subsequently ratified by a public vote via blockchain-based governance, ensuring alignment with libertarian principles of citizen consent. The following treaties, drawn from Liberland’s foreign affairs priorities, are highly compatible with libertarianism and warrant ratification. Please note that this not an exhaustive list and only includes those treaties that are of the highest priority to be ratified. As these treaties have gone through the process of adoption by Liberland, more treaties will be discussed and voted upon by both the Congress and the people of Liberland.
1. Geneva Conventions of 1949 and Protocols: Promoting Non-Aggression
The Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their Additional Protocols (1977, 2005) establish humanitarian standards for armed conflicts, protecting civilians, prisoners, and cultural property in times of war.
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Libertarian Alignment: These treaties align with the non-aggression principle by constraining state actions that harm individuals or property during conflict. They focus on limiting government power in warfare without imposing extensive domestic regulations, fitting Liberland’s minimal-state model.
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Benefits for Liberland: Ratifying the Geneva Conventions would signal Liberland’s commitment to peaceful coexistence, potentially mitigating regional tensions arising from its disputed territory. It would also protect Liberland’s citizens and supporters from mistreatment in potential disputes, enhancing its appeal as a safe haven for libertarians.
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Implementation: Given Liberland’s lack of recognition, submitting instruments to Switzerland (the depository) may face rejection, but domestic adoption of these standards via legislation, followed by public vote, could demonstrate state-like responsibility.
2. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966): Safeguarding Individual Liberties
The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) protects fundamental freedoms, including speech, assembly, movement, and due process, requiring states to prevent violations.
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Libertarian Alignment: The ICCPR enshrines negative rights—protections from state interference—that mirror Liberland’s Bill of Rights, emphasizing personal autonomy and minimal government. Its limited enforcement mechanisms avoid coercive supranational control, aligning with libertarian skepticism of centralized authority.
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Benefits for Liberland: Ratification would underscore Liberland’s commitment to individual rights, attracting libertarian supporters and potential investors. It could also provide a legal framework to challenge external restrictions on its citizens, such as border access issues.
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Implementation: Without UN recognition, Liberland could adopt ICCPR principles into its legal code, with Congress approval and a public vote ensuring transparency and citizen consent through blockchain governance.
3. Trade and Contract Treaties: Fostering Free Markets
The United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG, 1980), Hague Convention on Choice of Court Agreements (2005), and Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards (New York Convention, 1958) standardize rules for international commerce, emphasizing contractual freedom and private dispute resolution.
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Libertarian Alignment: These treaties promote voluntary exchange and private arbitration, reducing reliance on state-controlled courts and aligning with Liberland’s vision of free markets and minimal government intervention. The CISG standardizes cross-border sales, the Hague Convention honors chosen jurisdictions, and the New York Convention ensures global enforcement of arbitral awards.
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Benefits for Liberland: Ratification would facilitate trade and investment, particularly in Liberland’s blockchain-based economy, attracting crypto entrepreneurs and businesses. It could enable bilateral trade agreements with sympathetic entities, enhancing economic legitimacy.
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Implementation: Even without recognition, Liberland could incorporate these treaty principles into its commercial laws, with Congress approval followed by a public vote to ensure alignment with citizen priorities.
4. Vienna Conventions: Enabling Peaceful Diplomacy
The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961) and Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (1969) govern diplomatic immunity and treaty-making procedures.
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Libertarian Alignment: These treaties facilitate voluntary state interactions without restricting individual liberties, supporting peaceful cooperation and contractarian principles central to libertarianism.
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Benefits for Liberland: Ratification would professionalize Liberland’s foreign affairs, enabling representative offices and diplomatic engagement with potential allies. The Law of Treaties provides a framework for negotiating future agreements, enhancing Liberland’s statehood credentials.
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Implementation: Domestic adoption of diplomatic protocols, approved by Congress and ratified by public vote, could support Liberland’s outreach efforts, such as establishing ties with microstates or libertarian-friendly entities.
Challenges and Strategies for Ratification
Liberland’s unrecognized status poses significant barriers to treaty ratification, as depositaries like Switzerland (Geneva Conventions) or the Netherlands (Hague Conventions) typically require recognized statehood. Regional tensions, including opposition from neighboring states, further complicate access to the claimed territory. Strategies to overcome these include:
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Domestic Adoption: Incorporating treaty principles into Liberland’s legal framework, such as humanitarian standards or trade rules, can demonstrate compliance without formal ratification, with public voting ensuring citizen consent.
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Bilateral Agreements: Pursuing agreements with sympathetic entities, as seen with Liberland’s 2018 IIMSAM pact, can mimic treaty benefits and build diplomatic ties, subject to Congress approval and public vote.
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Blockchain Governance: Using blockchain voting to ratify treaty commitments post-Congress approval ensures citizen consent, aligning with libertarian principles of voluntary association.
Conclusion
Ratifying libertarian-compatible treaties like the Geneva Conventions, ICCPR, CISG, Hague Convention, New York Convention, and Vienna Conventions would advance Liberland’s legitimacy, protect its citizens, and promote free markets, all while upholding its minimal-state philosophy. These treaties align with non-aggression, individual liberty, and voluntary cooperation, reinforcing Liberland’s vision as a libertarian haven. There are many other treaties that can and should be ratified by Liberland that are not included on this list but the treaties listed are of the highest priority and should establish the precedent by which treaties thereafter should follow. By requiring Congress approval followed by a public vote via blockchain governance, Liberland ensures treaties reflect citizen consent, enhancing democratic legitimacy. Adopting treaty principles domestically and pursuing bilateral agreements can help navigate recognition challenges and attract global support. As interest in micronations grows, strategic ratification could position Liberland as a model for decentralized governance, warranting further exploration of implementation mechanisms within its blockchain-based system.