Short Novels: The 20 Treaties That Were Meant to Last Forever – But Didn’t

1. Treaty of Eternal Peace (1686)

The Treaty of Eternal Peace between Russia and the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth had a bold ambition right in its name: eternal peace. Leaders on both sides were desperate for stability in a region battered by war, so they etched their hopes into this agreement, pledging not just an end to hostility but a lasting alliance. Yet, history rarely grants forever. Within decades, Russia violated the treaty by invading Polish territories amid the chaos of European power struggles and the eventual partitions of Poland. It’s almost shocking how quickly “eternal” promises can unravel when ambition and opportunity collide. This episode became another chapter in the unending story of shifting borders and broken vows in Eastern Europe. The lesson is painfully clear: when empires hunger for land, treaties can become little more than paper shields. Even the most solemn words couldn’t withstand centuries of rivalry and distrust.

2. Franco-American Treaty of Alliance (1778)

Signed in the throes of the American Revolution, the Franco-American Treaty of Alliance was celebrated as a “perpetual” bond between France and the fledgling United States. It was a lifeline for the Americans, who needed France’s military and financial support to win independence. The word “perpetual” rang with optimism, but reality proved less enduring. After the French Revolution erupted and France became engulfed in its own turmoil, the United States quickly distanced itself, refusing to be drawn into France’s wars in Europe. The alliance, so pivotal one decade, was quietly abandoned the next. This dramatic about-face highlighted how quickly international friendships can sour when domestic chaos or self-interest takes hold. The episode showed that even revolutionary gratitude can be fleeting when survival is on the line.

3. Treaty of Amiens (1802)

The Treaty of Amiens, signed by France and Britain, was supposed to end years of bloody conflict during the Napoleonic Wars. For a moment, Europe exhaled as soldiers returned home and governments paused their war machines. Yet this peace proved astonishingly brief—hostilities resumed just over a year later. Leaders had hoped for a turning point, but suspicion and ambition simmered beneath the surface. Napoleon’s relentless expansionism and British mistrust ensured that the ink was barely dry before armies were once again on the march. The Treaty of Amiens stands as a symbol of how fragile peace can be when bitter rivals are involved. This fleeting calm became just a blip in decades of European turmoil, reminding everyone that sometimes, a “peace treaty” is just a short intermission in a much longer drama.

4. Treaty of Tilsit (1807)

The Treaty of Tilsit emerged from a dramatic meeting between Napoleon and Tsar Alexander I on a raft in the middle of the Niemen River. They dreamed of a new order in Europe and promised a long-term peace, even dividing spheres of influence between their empires. But only five years later, Napoleon shattered the pact by launching his disastrous invasion of Russia in 1812. Personal ambition and suspicion overwhelmed any sense of loyalty or shared purpose. The collapse of Tilsit changed the course of European history, leading directly to Napoleon’s downfall and decades of upheaval. This treaty’s fate warns us just how quickly trust can turn to betrayal, especially when egos are as big as entire continents.

5. Treaty of Schönbrunn (1809)

After yet another bitter war, France and Austria crafted the Treaty of Schönbrunn to try and bring balance to Central Europe. The ink barely had time to dry before Austria shifted course, joining the coalition against Napoleon. This pivot reflected the constant chess game of alliances in early 19th century Europe, where yesterday’s enemy could become today’s friend and vice versa. The Schönbrunn treaty, meant to stabilize, instead became a footnote in a period defined by volatility and shifting allegiances. Austria’s quick about-face demonstrated how treaties could be as changeable as the weather—subject to the whims of leaders and the unpredictable winds of war. The “stability” promised was just an illusion.

6. Treaty of Paris (1815)

The Treaty of Paris in 1815 followed Napoleon’s final defeat, with the victorious Allied powers trying to construct a lasting peace for a bruised and battered continent. For a time, their efforts seemed successful; Europe avoided massive wars for several generations. But the peace was not forever. The 19th and 20th centuries brought new waves of conflict, including the Crimean War, Franco-Prussian War, and eventually two world wars. The Treaty of Paris, while significant, could not erase old rivalries or prevent nationalism from boiling over. The hope for a permanent settlement was undone by the realities of shifting interests and historical grievances. Even the best-laid treaties can crumble under the weight of new ambitions and old resentments.

7. Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848)

The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, signed after the Mexican-American War, was meant to settle the border between Mexico and the United States for good. It forced Mexico to cede vast territories, including California and much of the American Southwest. Yet, disputes didn’t end. The Gadsden Purchase a few years later saw the U.S. buying even more land, and for decades, arguments over the exact border persisted. The scars of this treaty are still visible today, as border issues remain a flashpoint in U.S.-Mexico relations. The idea of a “permanent” settlement proved elusive. Treaties may draw lines on a map, but they can’t erase the deep-rooted tensions that linger for generations.

8. Treaty of London (1839)

When European powers signed the Treaty of London, they solemnly guaranteed Belgium’s neutrality “forever.” This promise was supposed to be ironclad, a bulwark against aggression. But in 1914, Germany invaded Belgium, dismissing the treaty as a mere “scrap of paper.” This shocking act helped drag Britain into World War I and exposed the brutal truth: even solemn promises can be tossed aside when they become inconvenient. The ease with which the treaty was broken highlighted the limits of international law in restraining powerful nations. It was a heartbreaking lesson in the fragility of peace—and the price paid when words fail to hold back armies.

9. Anglo-Japanese Alliance (1902)

The Anglo-Japanese Alliance was the first time a Western power recognized an Asian nation as an equal in global politics. Meant to ensure mutual security and cooperation, it was renewed several times as both countries benefited from the arrangement. But after World War I, the global landscape shifted dramatically. The United States opposed further cooperation, and Britain’s priorities changed. By 1923, the alliance was allowed to lapse, leaving Japan feeling increasingly isolated. The breakdown of this partnership foreshadowed the stormy decades that followed in the Pacific. It’s a vivid example of how alliances can be upended by outside pressures and changing strategic interests.

10. Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (1918)

When Soviet Russia signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with the Central Powers, it marked a desperate bid to exit the carnage of World War I. The treaty’s terms were harsh: Russia lost a third of its population and vast swathes of territory. Yet, within months, the entire deal was nullified when Germany lost the war and the Central Powers collapsed. The rapid demise of Brest-Litovsk underlines how treaties made in desperation or under duress rarely stand the test of time. The map of Eastern Europe was redrawn yet again, and millions were left to deal with the consequences of vanished borders and broken promises.

11. Kellogg–Briand Pact (1928)

The Kellogg–Briand Pact came with grand ambitions: over 60 countries agreed to “outlaw war” as a national policy, hoping to usher in a new era of peace. The language was inspiring, even utopian. But just over a decade later, World War II shattered those dreams. The pact turned out to be little more than a symbolic gesture, as nations that had signed it went to war anyway. The failure of this idealistic agreement is a sobering lesson in the limits of words without enforcement. It’s a reminder that international peace can be as fragile as glass—beautiful to look at, but easily shattered by the hammer of reality.

12. Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact (1939)

The Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact stunned the world: Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, sworn enemies, agreed to a non-aggression pact and secretly divided Eastern Europe between them. The arrangement lasted less than two years. In June 1941, Hitler broke the pact by invading the Soviet Union, unleashing one of the most devastating chapters of World War II. The rapid unraveling of this cynical alliance demonstrated how deals based on mutual convenience, rather than genuine trust, are often the quickest to collapse. The consequences were catastrophic, proving that even the most powerful agreements can be destroyed by ambition and betrayal.

13. Atlantic Charter (1941)

Crafted by Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill in the dark days of World War II, the Atlantic Charter outlined a vision for a peaceful, free world after the war. It inspired millions with its promises of self-determination and economic cooperation. However, the onset of the Cold War quickly overshadowed those grand ideals. Many colonial powers ignored the charter’s principles, clinging to their empires. Meanwhile, competition between the U.S. and USSR turned former allies into bitter rivals. The Atlantic Charter’s dream was upended by the messy realities of postwar politics, showing once again how hard it is to translate ideals into lasting change.

14. Warsaw Pact (1955)

Born during the Cold War, the Warsaw Pact was the Soviet Union’s answer to NATO—a military alliance meant to forever bind Eastern Bloc nations together in common defense. For decades, it was a symbol of Soviet power. But when the USSR collapsed in 1991, the pact dissolved almost overnight. Eastern European countries rushed to break free, and many later joined NATO themselves. The sudden unravelling of the Warsaw Pact is a stark reminder that even the most rigid alliances can vanish in the face of historic change. Power, not paperwork, ultimately determines the fate of these agreements.

15. Sino-Soviet Treaty of Friendship (1950)

The Sino-Soviet Treaty of Friendship was signed in 1950 with bold promises of 30 years of cooperation, uniting the communist giants of China and the USSR. For a few years, their partnership seemed strong, but deep ideological differences soon emerged. By 1960, the alliance was all but dead, as the two powers traded insults and even clashed militarily along their border. The collapse of this treaty demonstrates how alliances based on ideology can unravel just as quickly as those built on convenience. The short-lived friendship shaped the future of the Cold War, creating new rivalries and power struggles across Asia.

16. Camp David Accords (1978)

The Camp David Accords, brokered by U.S. President Jimmy Carter, brought Egypt and Israel together for a historic peace deal. The agreement has held between these two countries, but the broader hope for Arab-Israeli peace remains elusive. Many neighboring states refused to follow Egypt’s lead, and violence has persisted elsewhere in the region. The accords were a breakthrough, but they also revealed the limitations of bilateral agreements in a region awash with deeply rooted grievances and mistrust. Still, the peace between Egypt and Israel stands as a rare success in a landscape littered with broken promises.

17. Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) (1987)

The INF Treaty was a landmark arms control agreement, eliminating an entire class of nuclear and conventional missiles from Europe. For over three decades, it helped keep a lid on Cold War tensions and made the world a little less dangerous. But by 2019, the U.S. withdrew, accusing Russia of violations—a claim Russia denied. Soon after, Russia also pulled out. The collapse of the INF Treaty reignited fears of a new arms race and showed how quickly decades of progress can be undone. It highlights the fragility of trust between superpowers and the ever-present risk of sliding backwards.

18. Budapest Memorandum (1994)

The Budapest Memorandum was supposed to guarantee Ukraine’s territorial integrity after it gave up its nuclear arsenal—the world’s third largest at the time. Signed by the U.S., UK, and Russia, the agreement was meant to provide security “forever.” But in 2014, Russia annexed Crimea, violating the memorandum and sending shockwaves across the globe. The failure to enforce these guarantees has reverberated through international politics, especially as conflict continues in Ukraine. The Budapest Memorandum stands as an unsettling reminder that security assurances mean little when power politics take over.

19. Good Friday Agreement (1998)

The Good Friday Agreement was hailed as a miracle, ending decades of violence in Northern Ireland and offering hope for a lasting peace. For over 20 years, it has reduced bloodshed and brought communities together. Yet, Brexit has thrown its future into doubt, stirring old tensions and threatening the delicate balance. The agreement’s fate now hangs in the balance, highlighting how even the most carefully crafted peace deals can be shaken by new political storms. The people of Northern Ireland know all too well how fragile peace can be, and how quickly old wounds can reopen.

20. Treaty on Open Skies (2002)

The Treaty on Open Skies allowed 34 nations to conduct surveillance flights over each other’s territory, building trust and transparency in military affairs. For nearly two decades, it served as a quiet but important pillar of arms control. In 2020, the U.S. withdrew, citing Russian violations. Russia followed suit in 2021. The end of the treaty leaves the world with fewer tools for building confidence and reducing misunderstanding. As old rivalries flare up again, the collapse of the Open Skies agreement is a sobering reminder of how quickly cooperation can unravel, leaving nations peering at each other through a thickening fog of suspicion.