Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act

The Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA) is a U.S. law that outlines when foreign governments can be sued in U.S. courts. Generally, foreign nations are protected from lawsuits, reflecting the principle of sovereign immunity. However, the FSIA allows exceptions, such as when a foreign government engages in commercial activities or causes harm in the U.S. This law helps balance respect for foreign governments with the rights of individuals and businesses to seek justice for certain actions. It provides a legal framework to determine jurisdiction and the applicability of immunity in cases involving foreign entities.