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International Relations & Diplomacy vocabulary · Treaties & Agreements

Withdrawal

Meaning in international relations & diplomacy, with examples

/wɪðˈdrɔːəl/nounCommon term

In international relations & diplomacy, withdrawal means: The act of a state formally leaving a treaty or international organisation; also the pulling back of troops or officials from a place.

In Turkish: çekilme, ayrılma

How it is used

Many treaties include a withdrawal clause that sets a notice period. A state 'gives notice of withdrawal' or 'announces its withdrawal', and the verb is 'withdraw from'. In security news, 'troop withdrawal' means moving forces out of an area.

Example sentences

  1. The government gave six months' notice of its withdrawal from the agreement.

  2. Under the treaty, withdrawal takes effect one year after notification.

  3. The ceasefire plan includes a phased withdrawal of troops.

Common collocations

  • withdrawal from a treaty
  • notice of withdrawal
  • troop withdrawal
  • phased withdrawal
  • withdrawal clause
  • treatyA formal written agreement between states, or between states and international organisations, that is governed by international law and creates legal obligations.
  • entry into forceThe moment when a treaty or law starts to have legal effect, often after a set number of states have ratified it or on a specified date.
  • ceasefireAn agreement between the sides in an armed conflict to stop fighting, either for a limited time or as a first step towards a lasting peace.
  • bindingCreating a legal obligation that the parties must follow, so that a binding agreement or decision cannot simply be ignored.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Treaties & Agreements

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