International Law

Just Security offers expert analysis of international law and its role in addressing global challenges. Our coverage includes litigation in international and regional tribunals, the process of international law-making, analysis of compliance and accountability for international law violations–including international criminal justice, and challenges to the international legal order.

Highlights:

The U.S.-Ukraine Agreement: Legality and Transparency

The recently announced mineral deal is likely a lawful “sole executive agreement” that the president need not submit to Congress, but subsequent implementing agreements are…
A model of an underwater internet cable

A New Strategy to Counter Chinese Sabotage of Taiwan’s Undersea Cables

U.S. policymakers must adopt a comprehensive strategy to counter China's "shadow fleet" and enhance Taiwan's undersea cable security.
Women reflect in dirty water

Justice for Children in a Future Crimes Against Humanity Treaty

States should incorporate child-specific provisions within a future Crimes Against Humanity Convention to better protect children's rights.
A collage of images featuring scenes from the Russia - Ukraine War.

Just Security’s Russia–Ukraine War Archive

A catalog of over 100 articles (many with Ukrainian translations) on the Russia Ukraine War -- law, diplomacy, policy options, and more.
People react as they gather close to a mass grave in the town of Bucha, just northwest of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on April 3, 2022.

Russia’s Eliminationist Rhetoric Against Ukraine: A Collection

Updated: Key words, phrases, and themes appear to express intent to eliminate Ukraine or Ukrainians as a nation-state, people, or culture.
A doctor walks through the halls in a bombed Gaza hospital

State’s Program for Responding to Civilian Harm Caused by American Weapons Falls Short, But Should Not Be Abandoned

A well-resourced CHIRG could help prevent U.S. arms from being used unlawfully, and offer a credible response to critics of America’s global weapons transfers.
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3,426 Articles
Binders of executive orders stacked on a desk.

Collection: Just Security’s Coverage of Trump Administration Executive Actions

Coverage of key developments, including in concise “What Just Happened” expert explainers, legal and policy analysis, and more. Check back frequently for updates.
An image of an orange/yellow sun

Why a Global “Moratorium” on Solar Radiation Management Deployment Should Get a Chilly Reception

A bottom-up norm-setting approach would rectify the concerns of agreeing to a global moratorium on solar radiation management deployment.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth talks with Panama Canal Administrator Ricaurte Vasquez in front of a Panama Canal sign.

Ambiguity Is Not Authorization: The Neutrality Treaty Does Not Justify U.S. Military Intervention in Panama

U.S. Military intervention in Panama would violate fundamental international norms and find no justification in the Neutrality Treaty.
a ukrainian passport with a sticky note that reads "don't touch ukrainian people"

Targeting a Nation: Russian Airstrikes and the Crime of Persecution in Ukraine

Legal analysis shows how Russia’s actions meet the threshold for the crime of persecution under international law.
A picture remains on the wall of a kindergarten building that was damaged during the Russian invasion in Kharkiv's Saltivka district on January 20, 2025 in Kharkiv, Ukraine. (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images)

How to Eliminate a Nation: Russia’s Crime of Extermination in Ukraine

Extermination is often overshadowed by or conflated with genocide, it is no less egregious in its scope and effects. Prosecuting the crime of extermination is essential.
A line of people, some under umbrellas, with a woman at the center holding a poster with photos on it and the message, in Spanish, saying, "He has worked for a solid company since he was 18. An investigation is urgently needed for his prompt release. No more unjust detentions."

El Salvador’s Authoritarian Slide Should Hold Lessons – Not Examples – for the U.S.

In fighting rampant gang violence, President Bukele has turned El Salvador into even more of a lawless, opaque State.
Image of the Capital overlayed with digital color blocks

Beyond Data Rescue: Building Structural Safeguards for Federal Data Preservation

Disappearance of vital resources from government websites exposes a fragile ecosystem in which accountability mechanisms have broken down.
gavel hammer with smartphone on blue background.

Online Safety Regulations Around the World: The State of Play and The Way Forward

A global survey and analysis of online safety laws reveals an emerging set of discernible approaches to platform regulation.
General view of the G20 finance ministers meeting as Brazilian Finance Minister Fernando Haddad speaks in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on February 28, 2024.

Is the New Global Order a Boon for International Taxation Collaboration?

The U.S. withdrawal from international forums may open possibilities for other cooperation. The tax reform agenda is a case in point. 
(L-R) Deputy Minister of Justice of Ukraine Iryna Mudra, the European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice and Rule of Law Michael McGrath, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas and the Secretary General of the Council of Europe Alain Berset standing at white podiums in front of a blue backdrop.

International Law at the Precipice: Holding Leaders Accountable for the Crime of Aggression in Russia’s War Against Ukraine

The Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine cannot be treated as a bargaining chip in negotiations to end hostilities.
In this handout photo provided by the Salvadoran government, members of the Salvadoran army stand guard at the gates of the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) at CECOT on March 16, 2025 in Tecoluca, El Salvador.

Deportation to CECOT: The Constitutional Prohibition on Punishment Without Charge or Trial

Sending migrants to El Salvador’s CECOT prison raises grave constitutional concerns under the Fifth and Sixth Amendments.
Proposed New Org Chart, Department of State

What Just Happened: The Trump Administration’s Reorganization of the State Department – and How We Got Here

The Trump administration’s proposed reorganization of the State Department is not just a reshuffle. It’s a realignment of diplomatic priorities that seems set to constrain…
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