Deos Terrum affirms its capacity to engage in relations with other States and peoples, as required under Article 1(d) of the Montevideo Convention (1933). This capacity has been demonstrated in practice through the recent execution of a cross-border agistment agreement, permitting the placement and management of livestock originating from another nation upon the lands of Deos Terrum. The primary purpose of this arrangement is the responsible management of the land – specifically, the reduction of fire risk and the maintenance of pasture at levels conducive to that end. This arrangement evidences the community’s ability to conduct international cooperation, cross-jurisdictional coordination, and the practical stewardship of land in partnership with others.
In addition, the Council of Custodians has undertaken formal international communications with recognised offices and institutions, including the Secretary-General of the United Nations, His Majesty King Charles III (as Head of the Commonwealth), the Commonwealth Secretariat, and relevant Australian authorities such as the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. These communications were issued transparently and in accordance with peaceful diplomatic practice, further illustrating Deos Terrum’s functional capacity for external relations.
Deos Terrum is also presently engaged in ongoing international negotiations and correspondence, conducted respectfully and without adversarial intent, with a view to establishing cooperative links, pursuing community-support partnerships, and exploring avenues for future engagement under recognised international law principles.
Taken together, these actions provide a clear, factual demonstration that Deos Terrum possesses and exercises the capacity to enter into relations, meeting the fourth criterion of the Montevideo Convention and reinforcing its standing as a sui regendi nation acting peacefully and within established international norms.