Many treaties were concluded with enemies surrendering before an approaching Assyrian army or after a display of force:
"Natnu, king of distant Nabatea, heard of the power of Aššur and Marduk, and he who had never sent his messenger to my royal fathers to ask about the well-being of their majesties, now sent his 'messenger of health' to me to kiss my feet and to implore my lordship in order to conclude a treaty of peace and vassalage (adê sulummê u epēš ardūti) with me. I looked at him kindly, turned my gracious face upon him, and imposed a yearly tax and tribute upon him." (Piepkorn Asb p. 85.)
"Layalê, king of Yadi', who had fled before my weapons, became scared for his life, came to my presence to Nineveh and kissed my feet. I had mercy on him and pardoned him; I inscribed the might of Aššur my lord on his gods that I had plundered, returned them to him, entrusted him that region of Bazu and imposed the tax and tribute of my lordship upon him." (Borger Esarh. p. 56f.)
By contrast, one looks in vain for treaties imposed on defeated enemies. Such people were of no use to Assyria; they were eliminated and replaced with people ready and willing to cooperate:
"The governors, nobles and people of Ekron, who had thrown Padi their king, bound by treaty and oath (bēl adê u māmīt) to Assyria, into iron fetters and given him over to Hezekiah the Jew, became afraid ... I drew near to Ekron and slew the governors and nobles who had committed sin, and hung their corpses on stakes around the city. The citizens who had sinned I counted as spoil, the rest who were not guilty of sin I pardoned. I brought Padî their king out of Jerusalem, set him on the royal throne over them and imposed upon him the tribute of my lordship." (Luckenbill Senn. p. 31.)
Simo Parpola
Simo Parpola, 'Treaties with Submissive Adversaries', Neo-Assyrian Treaties and Loyalty Oaths, SAA 2. Original publication: Helsinki, Helsinki University Press, 1988; online contents: SAAo/SAA02 Project, a sub-project of MOCCI, 2020 [http://oracc.org/saao/saa02/treatiesasinstrumentsofimperialism/treatieswithsubmissiveadversaries/]