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 | This page in a nutshell: Bilateral relations articles should follow a standard format of presentation providing an easier way to obtain information. |
All bilateral relations articles should have a standard format when it comes to article presentation. The article content in itself such as the title of section headings can vary, but for the information, templates, categories, and images, all must be relevant to the topic at hand. While the latter is clearly obvious when it comes to basic editing and manual of style, what isn't mentioned for bilateral relations is the style of presentation can be beneficial for editing and reading providing an easier way to obtain information.
Every bilateral relations article should pass basic notability. Basic notability for foreign relations articles is mainly whether the two countries have recognition of one another. Form of recognition is through countries having diplomatic posts such as Embassies, Consulates, and representatives known as ambassadors established and/or appointed. If the countries have or are going to establish relations, then notability passes. If relations don't exist, there are no diplomatic missions, ambassadors, or direct exchanges between leaders of the two nations, then it doesn't pass notability. However, notability can pass if two countries don't have relations. There are two ways notability can pass with this factor. Countries that don't have official relations, but maintain contact and have held direct talks (e.g. Bhutan–United States relations). Another is the history between two nations whether positive or negative, usually negative, as in the case of articles such as Armenia–Turkey relations or Israel's relationship with mostly Arab and Muslim majority countries (e.g. Afghanistan–Israel relations, Israel–Yemen relations).
Once notability is established or met, then formating the article begins. This essay and its content is not about information relating to bilateral relations, just the formatting that displays the basic information relating to it.
The first thing to remember is that every bilateral relations article is titled in alphabetical format. The first country's name is followed by the em dash (–), then the second country's name, followed by "relations" at the end.