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International Relations & Diplomacy vocabulary · Foreign Policy & the State

Bilateral

Meaning in international relations & diplomacy, with examples

/baɪˈlætərəl/adjectiveCore term

In international relations & diplomacy, bilateral means: Involving two countries or two parties, as in bilateral relations, a bilateral agreement or a bilateral meeting between two leaders.

In Turkish: ikili, iki taraflı

How it is used

Used before nouns: bilateral relations, talks, trade, ties, visit. In diplomatic slang 'a bilateral' (noun) is a one-to-one meeting on the margins of a larger event. The opposite is 'multilateral'.

Example sentences

  1. Bilateral trade between the two countries doubled in five years.

  2. The ministers held a bilateral meeting before the conference opened.

  3. Bilateral relations have improved since the new agreement was signed.

Common collocations

  • bilateral relations
  • bilateral agreement
  • bilateral meeting
  • bilateral ties
  • bilateral trade
  • multilateralInvolving three or more countries, or carried out through international organisations, as in multilateral talks, a multilateral treaty or multilateral cooperation.
  • diplomatic relationsThe official connection between two states that allows them to exchange ambassadors, open embassies and deal with each other through normal diplomatic channels.
  • summitA high-level meeting between heads of state or government, often lasting a day or two, to discuss major issues and agree on joint decisions or statements.
  • treatyA formal written agreement between states, or between states and international organisations, that is governed by international law and creates legal obligations.

More terms: Foreign Policy & the State

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