EJIL: The Podcast! Episode 39: Holding the Line

In this episode, Philippa Webb (Oxford) and Marko Milanovic (Reading) are joined by Nicolas Angelet (Ghent) and Oona Hathaway (Yale) to discuss the legality of the US strikes against suspected drug boats in the Caribbean and the additional threats made by the United States against Venezuela, which include a possible land invasion.

The hosts and their guests then turn to the recent UNRWA advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, discussing some of the interesting questions that it raises, including the inviolability of UN premises during armed conflict. In doing so, they also reflect on the downward spiral of the international legal order.

 

On the Venezuela discussed in this episode, readers may want to consult the extensive coverage over on Just Security. On the US threats against Venezuela as a violation of Article 2(4) of the Charter, see in particular this post by Mike Schmitt. On the ICJ UNRWA advisory opinion, see these two posts by Marko Milanovic (here and here). The episode was recorded before the publication of reporting indicating that the UK suspended intelligence sharing with the US in the Caribbean to avoid possible complicity in internationally wrongful acts committed by the US. On complicity and intelligence sharing generally, see more here and here.