Embrace, Sign, Join, or Ratify the Nuclear Ban Treaty: Do Words Matter?
“Signing” a treaty is simply making a commitment to follow through with ratification. “Ratifying” a treaty means that its terms become legally binding in the ratifying country. “Joining” a treaty may imply signing and/or ratifying, while “embracing” a treaty implies a form of support that falls short of signing or ratifying it. When it comes…