Columbia tells International Court of Justice to shove it

Colombia pulls out of International Court over Nicaragua

Hmm. I can remember the last time Nicaragua was in the news over an ongoing territorial dispute with Costa Rica, and they almost went to war (it didn't help that they "accidentally" occupied the area because a military commander allegedly relied on a generalized and erroneous googlemap).

I don't think the latest ICJ ruling will result in things getting quite so out of hand, but it is interesting to note that the same court recognized three of the disputed islands in the archipelago to Columbia in 2007, along with recognizing all remaining ones in this final decision. Columbia lost no "land" here, rather the potentially lucrative fishing and mineral rights that are now within Nicaragua's legally recognized maritime border.

Here's a reference map as drawn up by some drug policy wonks (who think the redrawing of this border will affect drug traffickers using existing shipping routes - whether positively or negatively remains to be seen). Meanwhile, Columbian fishermen lament their loss of productive fisheries.


It should be noted that this decision opens up a massive canal project (think Panama Canal scale) currently underway in Nicaragua, however the previously mentioned dispute with Costa Rica is still spoiling their efforts (never mind the environmental damage they've already incurred in river dredging operations)...

We'll be hearing more about this story in the future.