Which agreement defines statehood criteria for recognition and territory?

• A. UNCLOS governs maritime boundaries and resources.
• B. Montevideo Convention defines statehood criteria for recognition and territory.
• C. Kyoto Protocol governs borders.
• D. Geneva Conventions govern borders.

Answer: (D)

Statehood and recognition hinge on a concrete set of criteria. The Montevideo Convention on Rights and Duties of States defines what a state must have: a permanent population, a defined territory, a functioning government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other states. It also discusses how recognition fits into the picture, tying general legitimacy to those core elements of sovereignty and territory. This makes it the most direct and authoritative reference for criteria of statehood and recognition.

The other agreements address different topics: UNCLOS deals with maritime boundaries and resources; the Kyoto Protocol addresses greenhouse gas emissions and climate policy; the Geneva Conventions cover humanitarian law in armed conflict. None of them lay out the standard criteria for what makes a state or how territory is defined in the international system.