Military
Highlights:
Timeline of Vessel Strikes and Related Actions
A timeline that chronicles major events in the Trump administration’s campaign of lethal strikes against suspected drug traffickers in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.
U.S. Boat Strike Campaign: Questions Congress Should Ask Executive Branch Officials
A list of questions that should be answered by U.S. government officials regarding the lethal campaign against suspected drug trafficking individuals, groups, and vessels.
Collection: U.S. Lethal Strikes on Suspected Drug Traffickers
Collection of expert analysis on the legality of the U.S. strike on Venezuelan vessels in the Caribbean, the consequences of the strike, and related issues.
Expert Q&A on the U.S. Boat Strikes
An expert Q&A on the Trump administration's lethal strikes against suspected drug trafficking boats on the high seas.
Killing Shipwrecked Survivors is Not Just Illegal—It Endangers U.S. Servicemembers
If the United States chooses a path where killing defenseless survivors becomes acceptable, American servicemembers will pay the price for that choice.
Unlawful Orders and Killing Shipwrecked Boat Strike Survivors: An Expert Backgrounder
An expert backgrounder on the reported Hegseth "no quarter" order to kill everyone aboard a suspected drug boat in the Caribbean on Sept. 2.
728 Articles
In Ethiopia, an Unfinished Peace Risks Betraying the People of Tigray and the Broader Region
A confluence of factors threatens to reignite the conflict in Ethiopia's Tigray region, exacerbating displacement and human suffering, and destabilizing the entire region.
The Just Security Podcast: Murder on the High Seas Part IV
Co-hosted with RCLS, a panel of experts discuss the Trump administration's continued campaign of lethal strikes against suspected drug traffickers.
Professional Responsibility and the Boat Strikes
Legal and ethical debates surge around unreleased OLC memo on lethal boat strikes in the Caribbean, with growing calls for transparency and scrutiny of military lawyers.
Could “A House of Dynamite” Spark a Public Rethink of Nuclear Risk?
There’s no shortage of opportunities to reduce the chances that a war game – or the plot of “Dynamite” – is never played out in real-time.
Persecuting the Prosecutors: Israel’s Military Lawyers Under Pressure
The weakening of the Military Advocate General affects the IDF's ability to carry out its missions lawfully, and the broader protection of the rule of law in Israel.
As Trump Presses for a Post-Maduro Venezuela: Questions, Lessons, and Warnings for the Aftermath
As the Trump administration positions for possible military strikes, it would be wise to prepare for looming governance and stability challenges in Venezuela.
Ukraine’s Zelenskyy Has Options in Response to Latest U.S.-Russian ‘Peace Plan’
The plan is a mess, but Ukrainians are right to try to work with the draft rather than reject it out of hand.
From Secret Law (2001-2024) to None at All (2025-present)
The Trump administration's lethal strikes are the apotheosis of the last quarter century's often always secret and often unreviewable executive branch legal reasoning.
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.
Trump’s Nuclear Testing Remark Was a Signal — Not a Strategy
The science is sound, the stockpile is strong, and the call to test a nuclear bomb has no technical foundation. Resuming testing would not make America safer.
Hypothetical Legal Review of Narcotrafficking Strikes
A mock “operational legal review” depicting what a staff judge advocate’s advice should have been prior to the first reported strike on an alleged drug trafficking vessel.
Much Work to Do and No Time to Waste: Mitigating Civilian Harm in an Asia-Pacific Conflict
Civilian harm is not entirely avoidable during armed conflict, but it can be anticipated and its severity limited. In Asia-Pacific, this depends entirely on steps taken now.