Just security

The crime of aggression stands as one of the most serious breaches of international law, representing a fundamental violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States. The Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine constitutes a continuing crime of aggression and represents a continuous pattern of unlawful use of … Memorandum for Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression Committed Against UkraineRead more

Signup to receive the Early Edition in your inbox here. A curated guide to major news and developments over the weekend. Here’s today’s news: ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR – CEASEFIRE Egypt sent a team of experts to Gaza this weekend to help locate the bodies of deceased Israeli hostages, according … Early Edition: October 27, 2025Read more

Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) designations are one of the most powerful legal instruments in America’s counterterrorism arsenal. Originally conceived to combat international terrorist networks like al-Qaeda and the Islamic State (ISIS), these designations trigger sweeping financial sanctions, severe criminal penalties, and extensive surveillance authorities. President Donald Trump’s comments … How Designating Antifa as a Foreign Terrorist Organization Could Threaten Civil LibertiesRead more

Series: International Law Weekend 2025 Crisis as Catalyst: The Past, Present, and Future of International Law by William J. Aceves, Amity Boye and Jessica Peake U.S. Strikes / Venezuela The Caribbean Strikes and the Collapse of Legal Oversight in U.S. Military Operations by Sarah Harrison and Mark Nevitt … Digest of Recent Articles on Just Security (Oct. 20-24, 2025)Read more

The Supreme Court is poised to decide a potentially momentous question for U.S. democracy: can the president unilaterally deploy federal troops on U.S. soil over the objections of state governors? In Trump v. Illinois, the Supreme Court will soon decide whether to issue a stay of a district … The Supreme Court: the Last Defense Against Trump’s Military Police StateRead more

The 80th anniversary session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York began in September 2025 under the theme, “Better together: 80 years and more for peace, development and human rights.” This theme likely does not resonate in South America and the Caribbean as the United States … The United Nations and a World in PainRead more

Signup to receive the Early Edition in your inbox here. A curated weekday guide to major news and developments over the last 24 hours. Here’s today’s news: ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR – CEASEFIRE 195 bodies have been returned to Gaza by Israeli authorities in exchange for the bodies of 13 … Early Edition: October 24, 2025Read more

On Feb. 22, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) delivered its Advisory Opinion on Israel’s obligations towards the presence and activities of third parties (the UN, other international organizations, and states) in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). The Opinion joins the flurry of international litigation on Israel-Palestine, including … The ICJ’s Advisory Opinion on Israel’s Obligations Towards UNRWA and Other International Organizations in the Occupied Territories: Key IssuesRead more

Since Russia adopted its law requiring nonprofits that receive foreign funding to register as “foreign agents” in 2012, a growing number of countries — including Kyrgyzstan, Georgia, Hungary, Slovakia, Nicaragua, and El Salvador, among others — have introduced or enacted similar legislation. This diffusion of authoritarian “foreign-agent-type” laws … Distorted Laws on “Foreign Agents” Threaten Democracy: Mobilizing a ResponseRead more

The October 7th massacre and the unprecedented war in Gaza compel Israel to rethink its conception of security. It cannot afford to do so without including a gender-based analysis. After two years of missiles, hostages, and the catastrophic toll of hunger and mass casualties of civilians in Gaza, … When Sexism Endangers Lives: In Israel, Sidelining Women Comes at the Cost of SecurityRead more

For the first time in U.S. history, lethal military force has been authorized solely to target drug traffickers—a move that marks an extraordinary assertion of expanded presidential power. Since early September, the U.S. military has killed at least 32 people in seven reported boat strikes in the Caribbean … The Caribbean Strikes and the Collapse of Legal Oversight in U.S. Military OperationsRead more

Signup to receive the Early Edition in your inbox here. A curated weekday guide to major news and developments over the last 24 hours. Here’s today’s news: ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR – CEASEFIRE Israel yesterday handed over the bodies of 54 unidentified Palestinians, most of whom were then buried at … Early Edition: October 23, 2025Read more

Almost immediately upon taking office for his second term, President Donald Trump unlawfully fired 17 inspectors general (IGs), and over the course of this year has taken actions to demote and replace at least three others, hindering these crucial officials’ efforts to serve as an important guardrail against … Should Inspectors General be Moved to the Legislative Branch?Read more

European governments have announced massive increases in defense spending as they strive to reduce dependence on the United States and address the increased, long-term security threat posed by Russia. Earlier this year, the European Commission launched the ReArm Europe Plan/Readiness 2030, which aims to mobilize more than $850 billion … As Europe Rearms, Learn from the Pentagon’s Efforts to Modernize Civilian ProtectionRead more

Signup to receive the Early Edition in your inbox here. A curated weekday guide to major news and developments over the weekend. Here’s today’s news: U.S. CARIBBEAN OPERATIONS  U.S. strikes against Venezuela in international waters constitute a dangerous escalation and amount to “extrajudicial executions,” a group of independent … Early Edition: October 22, 2025Read more

Ukrainians, fighting for their lives, as well as the people of nearby Poland, the Baltic States, Finland, and other Europeans most exposed to Russian aggression are watching with trepidation as President Donald Trump seems to vacillate in his behavior toward Russian President Vladimir Putin —  one day flattering … Roosevelt’s Weak Hand and Trump’s Strong One in Eastern and Central Europe: Will Trump Play His Good Cards?Read more

A recent report published by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), “Left-Wing Terrorism and Political Violence in the United States,” risks feeding false narratives about political violence and polarization. The report’s authors, Daniel Byman and Riley McCabe, make a sweeping claim: 2025 is on “pace to … Correctly Assessing Left-Wing Terrorism and Political Violence in the United StatesRead more

International law has always been shaped by crisis. Each generation has faced moments of rupture that have tested the resilience of legal norms and the willingness of nations to cooperate—from wars to financial collapses, from global pandemics to environmental catastrophes. Yet from these moments of instability have come … Crisis as Catalyst: The Past, Present, and Future of International LawRead more

Since early September, President Donald Trump has ordered a series of U.S. military strikes on vessels in the Caribbean Sea, leaving more than 30 people dead. The campaign has targeted boats the administration claims were linked to narcotics trafficking groups. One recent strike was the left two survivors, … The Just Security Podcast: Murder on the High Seas Part IIIRead more

Signup to receive the Early Edition in your inbox here. A curated weekday guide to major news and developments over the weekend. Here’s today’s news: U.S. CARIBBEAN OPERATIONS  Over the weekend, President Donald Trump announced he was sending two survivors of a U.S. strike on a suspected drug-running … Early Edition: October 21, 2025Read more

The Israeli government and Hamas ceasefire and hostage-release deal is underway, based on the 20-point Gaza peace plan announced by President Trump. Hopes are high that we will finally see an end to hostilities and immense destruction and suffering. Yet the ceasefire faces many challenges and is currently … Implementing the Gaza CeasefireRead more

As geopolitical tensions rise, cyber attacks are intensifying, with public services increasingly targeted. Over 130 countries have experienced cyber disruption. In recent years, ransomware attacks in Costa Rica crippled essential services for months. A cyber attack against Albania paralyzed the border entry system and revealed the identity of … Will Victims of Cyber Attacks Soon Get Their Day in Court? Options for Accountability for Cyber AttacksRead more

Signup to receive the Early Edition in your inbox here. A curated weekday guide to major news and developments over the weekend. Here’s today’s news: U.S. CARIBBEAN OPERATIONS  Colombian President Gustavo Petro accused the United States of murdering an innocent fisherman during a U.S. strike in September. In … Early Edition: October 20, 2025Read more

U.S. Strikes / Venezuela Attacking Drug Cartels in the Territory of Another State by Michael Schmitt Series: International Law Weekend 2025 Crisis as Catalyst in International Law by Michael P. Scharf Global Democracy Attacks on U.S. Legal Profession Reflect Global Slide in Countries It Once Aided by Jasmine … Digest of Recent Articles on Just Security (Oct. 13-17, 2025)Read more

The Rise of AI Agents Industry leaders have dubbed 2025 “the year of the AI agent.” Unlike chatbots, these systems can set goals and act autonomously without continuous human oversight. The most popular AI agents can book appointments and make online purchases, or write code and conduct research. … Governing AI Agents Globally: The Role of International Law, Norms and Accountability MechanismsRead more

Since September 2, the United States has conducted six lethal strikes on boats apparently in international waters originating from Venezuelan (and potentially Colombian) waters, said to be transporting narcotics; 27 individuals aboard them died. Colombian President Gustavo Petro labeled the attacks “aggression against all of Latin America and … Attacking Drug Cartels in the Territory of Another StateRead more

Signup to receive the Early Edition in your inbox here. A curated weekday guide to major news and developments over the last 24 hours. Here’s today’s news: ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR – CEASEFIRE Gaza’s Hamas-run Health Ministry said yesterday that 67,967 people have died in Gaza since October 7, 2023, … Early Edition: October 17, 2025Read more

Few phrases dominate debates about autonomous weapons more than “meaningful human control.” It has become a central topic in diplomatic forums, academic discussions, and civil society campaigns. States negotiating at the United Nations Group of Governmental Experts on lethal autonomous weapons (GGE LAWS) have invoked the phrase regularly, … Embedded Human Judgment in the Age of Autonomous WeaponsRead more

Every year, the American Branch of the International Law Association hosts International Law Weekend in New York City, the largest fall gathering of international law practitioners, government officials, academics, and students in the United States. Held on Oct. 23 at the House of the New York City Bar … Crisis as Catalyst in International LawRead more

Signup to receive the Early Edition in your inbox here. A curated weekday guide to major news and developments over the last 24 hours. Here’s today’s news: ISRAEL HAMAS WAR – CEASEFIRE AND HOSTAGES AND PRISONER RELEASE Israel received the remains of two more hostages from Gaza yesterday. … Early Edition: October 16, 2025Read more