Extraterritoriality is the state of being exempted from the
jurisdiction of local law, usually as the result of diplomatic negotiations. Historically, this applied to individuals. Extraterritoriality can also be applied to physical places, such as foreign
embassies,
military bases of foreign countries, or offices of the
United Nations. The three most common cases recognized today internationally relate to the persons and belongings of foreign
heads of state, the persons and belongings of
ambassadors and other
diplomats, and ships in foreign waters.