Armed neutrality

The first armed neutrality is the union of Russia , Denmark and Sweden , as well as a number of other states, established in 1779 - 1783 during the war of the North American colonies for independence , aimed at protecting the shipping of neutral countries .

In 1778, Russia proposed that Denmark jointly guard merchant ships bound for Russian ports. In the spring of 1779, Russia, Denmark and Sweden, without entering into a formal alliance, sent belligerent countries - Great Britain , France and Spain - declarations of measures they had taken to protect neutral trade, and sent them to the sea by small squadron .

When the Spaniards seized the Dutch and Russian vessels traveling with Russian bread to Mediterranean ports, on February 28 ( March 10 ), 1780 , Catherine II addressed the United Kingdom, France and Spain with a declaration stating such principles of armed neutrality:

1. neutral ships can freely walk along the shores of warring powers;
2. enemy property under a neutral flag (with the exception of “reserved goods”) is inviolable;
3. only weapons and various military equipment are recognized as military smuggling items;
4. only a port is considered blocked, the entrance to which is practically difficult due to the actions of the naval forces of the belligerent powers.

On this basis, Russia concluded conventions with Denmark on July 9 ( 20 ), 1780 and Sweden on August 1 ( 12 ), 1780 . Confirming the principles set forth in the declaration of February 28 ( March 10 ), 1780 , the contracting parties announced the closure of the Baltic Sea to the military courts of the belligerent powers and a mutual obligation to protect the declared principles. Thus, an alliance of the three powers arose, known as the "first armed neutrality." The Netherlands joined armed neutrality on January 4, 1781, Prussia on May 8, 1781, Austria on October 9, 1781, Portugal on July 13, 1782, and the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies on February 10, 1783 . France, Spain and the United States also recognized the principles of armed neutrality , although they did not formally join it. Of the major maritime powers, only Great Britain did not recognize armed neutrality . After the conclusion of the Versailles Peace Treaty of 1783, the first armed neutrality collapsed.

In 1800, in connection with the capture by the British of the Danish frigate Freya, Paul I turned to Denmark, Prussia and Sweden with a proposal to revive the principles of the first armed neutrality. In St. Petersburg , between 4–6 (16–18) December 1800, conventions were signed with Denmark, Sweden and Prussia, known as the “second armed neutrality”. The 1800 Convention, repeating the principles of the first armed neutrality, supplemented them with the requirement of special notification of neutral vessels about the blockade of this port in order to obtain the right to accuse the neutral vessel of violating the blockade; recognition that neutral merchant ships escorted by a neutral warship cannot be inspected if the convoy commander declares that they are not smuggled.

The second armed neutrality lasted until April 1801 , when, after Nelson 's unexpected attack on Copenhagen and the destruction of the Danish fleet, a ceasefire was concluded between Britain and Denmark. Soon, a coup took place in Russia, Paul I was overthrown and killed. After this, the second armed neutrality collapsed.

Subsequently, the provisions of armed neutrality were reflected in the Paris Declaration on Naval War of 1856.

In the 20th century, the provisions of armed neutrality were reflected in the Hague conventions on the capture of neutral merchant ships of 1907, as well as in the Nyon Agreement and the London Protocol of 1937 on the fight against pirate attacks of submarines on merchant ships.

• The concept of “armed neutrality” in Russian foreign policy