CYIL Vol. 4, 2013

THE ATTITUDE OF THE UNITED STATES TOWARD INTERNATIONAL LAW complies with its legal obligations under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the United Nations Headquarters Agreement by facilitating the entry and exit of diplomats invited to participate in United Nations activities. Occasionally, the United States violates international law or makes exception to the rule; however, when it does so, it generally does not admit to violating international law but instead justifies its action by invoking international law. There is nothing peculiar about United States non-compliance with international law. The United States is behaving like other previous great powers; it is free to violate the law, whereas other states should adhere to the rules. 5. Conclusion Like great powers before it, the United States is no exception; it benefits from a stable international system and expects all nations to comply with international law if the world is to be more peaceful. However, the United States feels it should be exempt from complying with all international law all of the time, as its global responsibilities may require it to violate international law occasionally. Overall, the United States has a very good compliance record, as outlined above. But when the United States, as a strong advocate for the rule of law in international affairs, violates the law, this is widely publicized because many nations look up to the United States as a great nation and one whose behavior they seek to emulate.