In international law, a war of aggression is generally considered to be any war for which the purpose is not to repel an invasion, or respond to an attack on the territory of a sovereign nation. This definition derives from the just war doctrine and, above all, the United Nations Charter, which provides for the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence if an armed attack occurs. International law, is the body of law that regulates the activities of entities possessing international personality. Traditionally, that meant the conduct and relationships of states. ... War is a state of widespread conflict between states, organisations, or relatively large groups of people, which is characterised by the use of lethal violence between combatants or upon civilians. ... An invasion is a military action consisting of troops entering a foreign land (a nation or territory, or part of that), often resulting in the invading power occupying the area, whether briefly or for a long period. ... Sovereignty is the exclusive right to exercise supreme authority over a geographic region or group of people, such as a nation or a tribe. ... Just War theory is an international law doctrine that postulates that a war can be just only if it satisfies a set of moral or legal rules. ... United Nations Charter Opened for signature June 26, 1945 at San Francisco Entered into force October 24, 1945 Conditions for entry into force Ratification by the Republic of China, France, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the United States of...

While waging a war of aggression was one of the indictments in the Nuremberg Trials because Germany had ratified the Kellogg-Briand Pact of 1928, many unprovoked wars have been fought since without those responsible facing trials afterwards, regardless of their signature to the pact. Some countries even officially proclaim the doctrine of preventive wars. The Nuremberg Trials is the name for two sets of trials of Nazis involved in World War II and the Holocaust. ... The Kellogg-Briand Pact, also known as the Pact of Paris, after the city where it was signed on August 27, 1928, is an international treaty providing for the renunciation of war as an instrument of national policy. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with preemptive war. ...

The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court condems wars of aggression but delays ruling upon it until a definition has been agreed about, which is not to be expected before 2009. The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (or Rome Statute) is the treaty which established the International Criminal Court (ICC). ... The International Criminal Court (ICC) was established in 2002 as a permanent tribunal to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes, as defined by several international agreements, most prominently the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. ... 2009 (MMIX) will be a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Sources

• United Nations Charter

See also

• Crime against peace