What are US Territorial Seas?

US Territorial Seas refer to the waters adjacent to the United States that are recognized as sovereign territory of the nation. This concept is significant in international law, particularly as defined by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Within these waters, the U.S. has the right to enforce laws, regulate resources, and control navigation, which is vital for maintaining national security and economic interests. The extent of the territorial seas typically reaches up to 12 nautical miles from the baseline of the coastline, beyond which lies the contiguous zone and then international waters.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately describe US Territorial Seas. International waters shared among coastal nations are outside the jurisdiction of any single nation, and private owned waterways refer to bodies of water owned by individuals or entities, which does not apply to territorial seas. Lastly, areas governed by treaties with foreign nations typically refer to agreements on maritime boundaries or resource sharing, but these do not encompass the inherent sovereign status of the territorial seas themselves.