Armed Conflict
Use of Force
830 Articles

Don’t be Fooled By U.S. Smoke and Mirrors on the Crime of Aggression
When it comes to doing the right thing and pursuing the rule of law, the form a tribunal takes should not dictate its ability to function:

A Decade Ago, the Obama Administration Acted When the M23 Terrorized Eastern DRC. Will Biden Do the Same?
The United States should take immediate steps to halt all security cooperation activities with Rwanda until concrete conditions are met.

Expert Q&A on IHL Compliance in Russia’s War in Ukraine
IHL needs to be respected in the heat of battle. How to achieve that goal - and reduce civilian suffering during hostilities - should become an urgent focus of international attention.

The United States’ Proposal on Prosecuting Russians for the Crime of Aggression Against Ukraine is a Step in the Right Direction
Whatever shape an aggression tribunal takes, we applaud the U.S. position which will likely create momentum to prosecute Russian aggression.

Does Russia Exercise Overall Control over the Wagner Group? Expert Q&A from Stockton Center’s Russia-Ukraine Conference
Use of the “overall control” test to attribute Wagner Group conduct to Russia is appealing, but considering the test’s application to other factual scenarios, there is some…

An Assessment of the United States’ New Position on An Aggression Tribunal for Ukraine
Praise but also a critique of the new U.S. position.

Policy Alert: Iran-U.S. Hostilities Ratcheting Up in Syria
Tensions between Iran and the United States are escalating again following tit-for-tat hostilities in Syria.

How Does IHL apply to New Technologies in Outer Space?: Expert Q&A from Stockton Center’s Russia-Ukraine Conference
The real challenge in the space domain is avoiding escalation in the first instance, such as by reducing threats and developing transparency and confidence building measures.

Is Amending the Rome Statute the Panacea Against Perceived Selectivity and Impunity for the Crime of Aggression Committed Against Ukraine?
Many supporters of a STCoA argue for a two-tiered approach because a quick fix of the Court’s jurisdictional regime is unrealistic.

The Russian Intercept of the U.S. Reaper and International Law
The Russian operation almost certainly violated the international law obligation of due regard and, perhaps, the prohibition on using force. Nevertheless, the Biden administration…

Opaque Transparency on the Use of Force: Observations on the 2022 “1264” Report
The 2022 report illustrates the limits of congressionally mandated reporting requirements on matters of war and peace and the need for Congress to be more proactive in informing…

Can Aid or Assistance Be a Use of Force?: Expert Q&A from Stockton Center’s Russia-Ukraine Conference
Some States are likely engaging in force by virtue of the quantity and quality of the support they are providing to Ukraine. Those activities are lawful as actions taken in the…