Crossword Genius

International treaty is optimum (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

ideal

'optimum' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'international treaty' is the wordplay.
'international' becomes 'i' (abbreviation eg in IMF).
'treaty' becomes 'deal' (a deal is a treaty or pact).
'i'+'deal'='IDEAL'

'is' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for ideal that I've seen before include "Cutting/stabbing weapons" , "Just right" , "Perfect; visionary" , "highly desirable" , "Exemplar" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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