Saudi Aramco Case Study

Before Resolution 1803

It can be argued that our concept of permanent national sovereignty over natural resources begins with the Peace of Westphalia in 1648 . This event is recognised as the first of many attempts at establishing a system of international law based on the principle of a nation-state’s unlimited and unsubordinated sovereignty within its boundaries. As a result of such sovereignty, under the Treaty of Munster, the states were prevented from exercising hostility and agreed to submit such disputes to “the ordinary proceedings of justice” and bound its signatories "to defend and protect all and every Article of this Peace against anyone, without distinction of Religion. " The implication of these restrictions on state aggression,

A large concession had been granted in 1933 to Standard Oil Company of California, which formed California Arabian Standard Oil Company as a subsidiary to handle the concession. The company eventually became Arabian American Oil Company (or Aramco). In 1952, Aristotle Onassis entered into a contract with the Saudi government for the formation and ownership of the Saudi Arabian Maritime Tankers Company (Satco), and return for royalty as well as other benefits, Satco was granted a right of priority for the transport of oil for 30 years. The Onassis Contract was ratified by Royal

These declarations are non-binding in nature, yet they are generally seen as important tenets of environmental law.

In the Case concerning armed activities on the territory of the Congo before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), one of Congo’s submissions against Uganda was the unlawful exploitation of its resources. It also accused Uganda engaging in looting and pillaging of its assets. The Court recognized permanent sovereignty as a principle of international convention law, as well as international customary law. It however did not find that Uganda had breached those rights, instead focussing on the duties of an occupying power under international