International law recognizes certain grounds
justifying or excusing non-compliance by a state
with its international obligations. These defenses
preclude the responsibility of a state for its
wrongful conduct. The Draft Articles in Chapter V
of Part One enlist these defenses under the heading
of “circumstances precluding wrongfulness,”
though they are not exclusive. It sets out six
circumstances (defenses):

• Consent (Art. 20),

• Self-defense (Art. 21),

• Countermeasures (Art. 22),

• Force majeure (Art. 23),

• Distress (Art. 24),

• Necessity (Art. 25).