“Peaceful Purposes” in the BBNJ Agreement: The Interpretation and Significance of Article 11(7)

Article 11(7) of the BBNJ Agreement provides that activities with respect to marine genetic resources and digital sequence information on marine genetic resources of areas beyond national jurisdiction “shall be carried out exclusively for peaceful purposes.” However, it is unclear what “peaceful purposes” in Article 11(7) means and referring to UNCLOS, as required under Article 5(1) of the BBNJ Agreement, does not provide clarity as there are similar uncertainties surrounding the meaning of “peaceful purposes” in UNCLOS. In light of these uncertainties, this article attempts to first, interpret the meaning of “peaceful purposes” in Article 11(7) of the BBNJ Agreement; and second, consider how the interpretation of Article 11(7) allows rethinking of the principle of “peaceful purposes” and informs the meaning of “peaceful purposes” in UNCLOS.