U.S. treaty obligation to defend Marshall Islands ships

 

 The Volokh Conspiracy " On April 28, the government of Iran seized the Maersk  Tigris cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz. The ship and its 24 crew members are still being held captive. The ship was flying the flag of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the United States has a treaty obligation to defend the Marshall Islands the same as the United States. On Tuesday, CBS News reported, via Twitter, that “Pentagon lawyers have determined” that the “US has no obligation to come to the defense of a Marshall Islands-flagged vessel at sea.” Were they correct? Probably not." . . .Full article

" Further reading: Department of the Navy, The Commander’s Handbook of the Law of Naval Operations, sections 3.10, 3.10.1 (July 2007)" . . .