Bilateral Maritime Migration Management Arrangements: An Evaluation of State Practice on the use of bilateral agreements for the suppression of irregular migration flows at sea.

This paper evaluates the use of bilateral maritime migration management arrangements as a tool for states to suppress irregular migration flows at sea. Focusing on state practice, it explores how bilateral agreements are negotiated, implemented, and operationalized to address the challenges posed by maritime migration. The analysis considers the legal, political, and practical dimensions of these arrangements, examining their compatibility with international law, including the law of the sea, refugee law, and human rights obligations. By assessing a range of case studies, the paper highlights both the strategic motivations behind these agreements and the risks they may pose to migrants’ rights. Ultimately, the paper seeks to determine whether bilateral cooperation in this context serves as an effective and lawful response to irregular maritime migration or whether it undermines broader international legal principles.