Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The UN Charter prohibits the "threat or use of force" in international relations. One of the most severe forms of the use of force is an act of aggression. For a long time, the international community struggled to agree on a precise legal definition of "aggression". This was finally achieved through a UN General Assembly Resolution.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
On December 14, 1974, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 3314 (XXIX).
This resolution contains the "Definition of Aggression".
- Article 1 defines aggression as "the use of armed force by a State against the sovereignty, territorial integrity or political independence of another State, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Charter of the United Nations."
- Article 3 provides a non-exhaustive list of acts that qualify as aggression, such as invasion, bombardment, blockade of ports, and attacks on the armed forces of another state.
This definition is considered an authoritative statement of customary international law and is referenced by the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.