(VOVworld) - The United States and Cuba on Wednesday signed a treaty delineating their maritime boundary in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. 

It delineates a part of the US-Cuba maritime boundary that had not been previously agreed upon, covering an area of the continental shelf in the eastern Gulf of Mexico that is more than 200 nautical miles from country’s shore. According to the US State Department, the treaty suits the US’s long term plan of ensuring maritime security and marine environment protection. The new maritime treaty must be ratified by the Senate before taking effect. Cuba and the US hope to reach 20 negotiations before President Obama retires.