Exchange of Greek and Turkish Populations Case (Advisory opinion) (Primacy of international law)

Exchange of Greek and Turkish Populations Case (Advisory opinion) (Primacy of international law)

Global Affairs Academy
Aug 12, 2026

In this international law case, the Permanent Court of International Justice was asked how to interpret a specific word in a treaty, in circumstances where one of the nations (Turkiye) already had a definition in its national laws. The court found that when a country enters into a treaty, it inherently agrees to change its national laws if necessary.