Is the law governing the acquisition of territory and the settlement of disputes among nations classified as public or private international law?

The law governing the acquisition of territory and the settlement of disputes among nations falls under the category of public international law. Public international law pertains to the legal framework that governs the relationships and interactions between sovereign states and international organizations, including issues related to treaties, the use of force, human rights, and territorial disputes.

Private international law, on the other hand, deals with legal disputes that arise between private parties across national jurisdictions, such as conflicts of laws in contracts or family law issues involving different countries. It addresses how to resolve cases where there is a mix of national laws.

Since the question specifically asks about the acquisition of territory and disputes among nations, it clearly aligns with public international law, making the classification of this area of law as public international law the correct response.