Mike Schmitt
@mikeschmitt.bsky.social
📤 2049
📥 449
📝 61
Professor of International Law, Reading University
reposted by
Mike Schmitt
Ryan Goodman
about 1 month ago
I believe folks know the important work we're doing at
@justsecurity.org
, especially in these challenging times. But we made this short video as a reminder! We really need your support this
#GivingTuesday
. For tax-deductible gifts:
justsecurity.org/donate/
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My thoughts with Just Security colleagues
@rgoodlaw.bsky.social
and
@tessbridgeman.bsky.social
on Saturday's U.S. operations into Venezuela and the international law issues they raised.
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about 12 hours ago
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reposted by
Mike Schmitt
Ryan Goodman
6 days ago
With President Trump saying U.S. "knocked out ... a big plant, or a big facility, where the ships come from" in Venezuela campaign. Also told CNN: "It was along the shore." Excellent expert analysis from October by
@mikeschmitt.bsky.social
: Attacking Drug Cartels in the Territory of Another State
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Attacking Drug Cartels in the Territory of Another State
U.S. lethal operations against suspected cartel-affiliated individuals to date stretch applicable international law beyond recognition.
https://www.justsecurity.org/122756/drug-cartels-venezuela-territory/
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My analysis of the Syrian strikes against ISIS with Just Security EiC
@rgoodlaw.bsky.social
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14 days ago
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My latest - on the Venezuela Blockade. With my friend, Commodore (RAN ret'd) and Professor Rob McLaughlin. With thanks to the ever-professional team at
@justsecurity.org
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17 days ago
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New piece on the duty to investigate the boat strikes under IHRL and LOAC with my
@unirdg-law.bsky.social
University of Reading Law School colleague Marko Milanovic.
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21 days ago
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Greatly expanded Q & A regarding Operation Southern Spear, potential operations against Venezuela, tanker seizures, and more. With
@justsecurity.org
colleagues
@tessbridgeman.bsky.social
&
@rgoodlaw.bsky.social
. Feel free to send more questions via the link at the end of the piece.
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22 days ago
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reposted by
Mike Schmitt
Ben Farley
27 days ago
Excellent step-by-step analysis of the legal issues in the Trump administration's murderous boat-strike campaign by
@tessbridgeman.bsky.social
@mikeschmitt.bsky.social
&
@rgoodlaw.bsky.social
in @justsecurity.org--starting with no NIAC and ending with no targets:
www.justsecurity.org/126553/opera...
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Operation Southern Spear: Why the Crews, Drugs, and Boats are Not Targetable
A deep dive on the international law applicable to the U.S. military's lethal operations against suspected drug boats
https://www.justsecurity.org/126553/operation-southern-spear-international-law/
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On the international targeting rules governing the campaign against the drug boats. BLUF, there is no international law basis for targeting the boats or the persons and drugs aboard them. With my
@justsecurity.org
colleagues, Co-Editors-in-Chief
@tessbridgeman.bsky.social
&
@rgoodlaw.bsky.social
.
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29 days ago
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reposted by
Mike Schmitt
Tess Bridgeman
about 1 month ago
Here we go -a few reminders to those covering this: - These are killings outside of armed conflict - There is no self-defense justification for the killings - That makes them extrajudicial killings under int'l law; murder under domestic law - No label ("narcoterrorist" or "DTO") changes any of that
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reposted by
Mike Schmitt
Tess Bridgeman
about 1 month ago
As with past strikes: - Carrying drugs, if true, cannot constitute hostilities or an armed attack. - Killing [likely unknown] people paid to ferry drugs for an undisclosed group we're not at war with is not "combat." It is murder. Qs that need answering:
www.justsecurity.org/126322/boat-...
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U.S. Boat Strike Campaign: Questions Congress Should Ask
A list of questions that should be answered by U.S. government officials regarding the lethal campaign against suspected drug traffickers.
https://www.justsecurity.org/126322/boat-strike-hegseth-congress/
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reposted by
Mike Schmitt
Brian Finucane
about 1 month ago
Pleased to speak with the CBC yesterday about the latest developments in the Trump administration's killing spree at sea and the possibility of a US military intervention in Venezuela.
www.cbc.ca/player/play/...
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reposted by
Mike Schmitt
Articles of War
about 1 month ago
.
#Proportionality
is one of the most widely used concepts in international law. However, its recurrence across different legal regimes should not lead to the mistaken assumption that it carries a single meaning, argues
@mikeschmitt.bsky.social
.
lieber.westpoint.edu/parsing-prop...
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In Honor of Françoise Hampson - Parsing Proportionality - Lieber Institute West Point
This post explains how proportionality operates differently in jus ad bellum, LOAC, ICL, IHRL, and law of State responsibility.
https://lieber.westpoint.edu/parsing-proportionality/
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reposted by
Mike Schmitt
Just Security
about 1 month ago
(3/3) With thanks to our authors this week: Jeremy Chin Georgio Konstandi Margaret Lin Marko Milanovic
@mikeschmitt.bsky.social
@mrazeeq.bsky.social
Naomi Roht-Arriaza Pavlina Pavlova
@rgoodlaw.bsky.social
@scott-levy.bsky.social
Thomas E. Brzozowski
@tomjoscelyn.bsky.social
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My latest ... on the many faces of proportionality in international law. In honor of my dear friend Francoise Hampson, whom we all miss very much.
lieber.westpoint.edu/parsing-prop...
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In Honor of Françoise Hampson - Parsing Proportionality - Lieber Institute West Point
This post explains how proportionality operates differently in jus ad bellum, LOAC, ICL, IHRL, and law of State responsibility.
https://lieber.westpoint.edu/parsing-proportionality/
about 1 month ago
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Analysis of intelligence sharing in the context of the boat strikes with my friends
@rgoodlaw.bsky.social
and Marko Milanovic. Professional and personal pleasure to team up with these superstars.
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about 2 months ago
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reposted by
Mike Schmitt
Just Security
about 2 months ago
(1/2) Catch up on our recent analysis: • Veterans Day • Russia-Ukraine War • U.S. military / Immigration • Israel-Hamas War • Anti-corruption series • Afghanistan • Violent extremism • Trump executive actions • U.S. foreign policy / Nigeria • Data privacy • Latin America
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Digest of Recent Articles on Just Security (Nov. 10-14, 2025)
Veterans Day • Russia-Ukraine War • U.S. military / Immigration • Israel-Hamas War • Anti-corruption series • Afghanistan • Violent extremism • Trump executive actions • U.S. foreign policy / Nigeria ...
https://www.justsecurity.org/124332/digest-recent-articles-just-security-nov-10-14-2025/
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My newest piece, with my friend
@rgoodlaw.bsky.social
and NYU's Anna Jimenez.
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2 months ago
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reposted by
Mike Schmitt
Tess Bridgeman
2 months ago
See my discussion with Jane Coaston on this here:
crooked.com/podcast/trum...
2/3
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Trump’s Deadly Attacks in the Caribbean Sea | Crooked Media
https://crooked.com/podcast/trumps-war-on-alleged-drug-boats/
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reposted by
Mike Schmitt
Tess Bridgeman
2 months ago
And the
@justsecurity.org
collection of analysis, podcasts, and informational resources here:
www.justsecurity.org/120753/colle...
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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.
https://www.justsecurity.org/120753/collection-u-s-lethal-strikes-on-suspected-drug-traffickers/
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reposted by
Mike Schmitt
Mark Nevitt
2 months ago
Interested in the ways that the Caribbean (and Pacific) drug strikes are unlawful?
@justsecurity.org
has 15 Articles (!) from experts
@becingber.bsky.social
@bcfinucane.bsky.social
@martylederman.bsky.social
@seharrison7.bsky.social
@mikeschmitt.bsky.social
www.justsecurity.org/120753/colle...
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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.
https://www.justsecurity.org/120753/collection-u-s-lethal-strikes-on-suspected-drug-traffickers/
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reposted by
Mike Schmitt
Reading Law School
2 months ago
Professor
@mikeschmitt.bsky.social
writes in
@justsecurity.org
on the legal rules applicable to prospective US attacks on drug cartels in the territory of other states.
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Attacking Drug Cartels in the Territory of Another State
U.S. lethal operations against suspected cartel-affiliated individuals to date stretch applicable international law beyond recognition.
https://www.justsecurity.org/122756/drug-cartels-venezuela-territory/
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My latest on the possibility of conducting counter-drug strikes into the territory of other States.
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3 months ago
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reposted by
Mike Schmitt
Tess Bridgeman
3 months ago
Qs Congress & press need to ask: -What group were those killed associated with? What were their roles? Who were they? -Will you explain the reasoning in OLC's opinion purporting to justify these killings? -Do you believe you have authority to summarily kill US citizens involved in the drug trade?
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My thoughts on the unlawful Russian flights into NATO airspace and the legal grounds for responding to them forcibly
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3 months ago
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reposted by
Mike Schmitt
Just Security
3 months ago
The United States’ Dirty War on “Narco Terrorism” By Ben Saul, Challis Chair of International Law at The University of Sydney and United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms while Countering Terrorism
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The United States’ Dirty War on “Narco Terrorism”
United Nations Special Rapporteur Ben Saul writes about the U.S. military strikes on alleged Venezuelan drug boats.
https://www.justsecurity.org/121115/united-states-dirty-war-narcoterrorism/
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reposted by
Mike Schmitt
Just Security
4 months ago
(3/3) With thanks to our authors this week: Jeremy Venook Jesse Marks Jon Temin
@jwrchappell.bsky.social
Maggie Lin Michael Pusic
@mikeschmitt.bsky.social
@milleridriss.bsky.social
Peter J. Quaranto Priyanka Motaparthy
@rgoodlaw.bsky.social
@richardgowan1.bsky.social
Siven Watt Wells Dixon
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reposted by
Mike Schmitt
Brian Finucane
4 months ago
And if folks are interested in rebuttals to the arguments for premeditated killings in the Caribbean, I would recommend listening from the ~23 minute mark onwards.
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reposted by
Mike Schmitt
Rebecca Ingber
4 months ago
And
@mikeschmitt.bsky.social
!
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Quoted in this WP story on attacking drug cartels. For a fuller discussion of my views on some of the legal issues, see my
@justsecurity.org
piece last week.
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
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DEA faced pushback at White House, Pentagon after urging Mexico strikes
The suggestion, though not acted upon, was met with alarm from officials who warned that Congress has not authorized such action.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/09/19/trump-cartel-strikes-mexico-dea/
4 months ago
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Kudos to General Mark Welsh, former Chief of Staff of the Air Force, for doing the right thing and resigning as President of Texas A & M when one of his people was mistreated. Silence and inaction is complicity.
www.washingtonpost.com/national/202...
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Texas A&M president is stepping down after upheaval over classroom video
Texas A&M University’s president is stepping down after facing criticism over a classroom video that showed a student objecting to a children’s literature lesson about gender, which led to the profess...
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/2025/09/18/texas-am-university-resignation-mark-welsh/8d526e5a-9502-11f0-8336-4757e168ec2a_story.html
4 months ago
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reposted by
Mike Schmitt
Just Security
4 months ago
Leading legal expert analyzes the Israeli airstrike on Hamas leadership in Doha, Qatar. Striking Hamas in Qatar: "Unwilling or Unable”? By professor
@mikeschmitt.bsky.social
www.justsecurity.org/120727/israe...
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Striking Hamas in Qatar: "Unwilling or Unable”?
Legal analysis of the Israeli airstrike against Hamas leadership in Doha, Qatar.
https://www.justsecurity.org/120727/israel-airstrike-hamas-qatar-doha/
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My thoughts on the airstrike into Qatar against Hamas leaders.
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4 months ago
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Read Brian Finucane’s analysis on the second counter-narcotics strike. As I wrote in my own
@justsecurity.org
piece last week, I see no legal basis for these strikes. I wa shooing cooler heads would prevail after the first misstep.
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4 months ago
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After nearly a decade in the position, I have stepped down as the G. Norman Lieber Distinguished Scholar at West Point. I look forward to continuing to work alongside my great colleagues at the University of Reading Law School and the U.S. Naval War College's Stockton Center for International Law.
4 months ago
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reposted by
Mike Schmitt
Just Security
4 months ago
New book alert! 📚 "Perpetual War and International Law: Enduring Legacies of the War on Terror" (OUP), ed
@briannarosen.bsky.social
. Marking 24th anniversary of
#September11
, it offers a timely reflection on how the post-9/11 era shapes contemporary conflicts.
www.justsecurity.org/120313/perpe...
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Book Release – Perpetual War and International Law: Enduring Legacies of the War on Terror
Introducing a new book series confronting the enduring legacies of the post-9/11 era and exploring viable alternatives to the use of force.
https://www.justsecurity.org/120313/perpetual-war-international-law-book/
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My thoughts on the Tren de Aragua speedboat strike.
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4 months ago
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Two years ago, I concluded, “Calls for a peace agreement contemplating territorial transfer are legally (and, in my view, practically and ethically) flawed.” I haven’t changed my mind.
lieber.westpoint.edu/territorial-...
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Ukraine Symposium - Territorial Acquisition and Armed Conflict - Lieber Institute West Point
Any agreement between Ukraine and Russia for territorial acquisition for the benefit of the latter would be void under the law of treaties.
https://lieber.westpoint.edu/territorial-acquisition-armed-conflict/
5 months ago
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reposted by
Mike Schmitt
Articles of War
6 months ago
Reportedly, Israeli settlers/soldiers have killed 5 US citizens in the
#WestBank
since 2023 Hamas attack.
@mikeschmitt.bsky.social
& Julia Flores examine occupying power’s obligation to maintain public order & ensure security of persons within occup. territory.
lieber.westpoint.edu/protecting-i...
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Protecting Inhabitants of Occupied Territory: Settler Violence in the West Bank - Lieber Institute West Point
Obligation of an Occupying Power to ensure public order/safety in occupied territory is a tenet of the law of belligerent occupation.
https://lieber.westpoint.edu/protecting-inhabitants-occupied-territory-settler-violence-west-bank/
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reposted by
Mike Schmitt
Reading Law School
5 months ago
Latest
@articlesofwar.bsky.social
post by Professor
@mikeschmitt.bsky.social
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My latest, on settler violence in the West Bank, with Major Julia Flores of the Naval War College's Stockton Center.
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6 months ago
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reposted by
Mike Schmitt
Articles of War
7 months ago
IDF has conducted so-called
#targetedkillings
of
#scientists
working on
#Iran’s
nuclear development program.
@mikeschmitt.bsky.social
analyzes in his post IDF’s
#targeting
of Iranian nuclear scientists from the law of armed conflict perspective.
lieber.westpoint.edu/attacking-sc...
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Attacking Scientists and the Law of Armed Conflict - Lieber Institute West Point
On June 13, 2025, IDF conducted so-called “targeted killings” of scientists working on Iran’s nuclear development program.
https://lieber.westpoint.edu/attacking-scientists-law-armed-conflict/
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reposted by
Mike Schmitt
Articles of War
6 months ago
Operation
#RisingLion
sparked a sophisticated debate over the parameters of the international law right of
#selfdefense
.
@mikeschmitt.bsky.social
asks when it is appropriate for States to reinterpret long-held international law rules.
lieber.westpoint.edu/interpreting...
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Interpreting the Law of Self-Defense - Lieber Institute West Point
There is no question that the law of self-defense, especially that governing anticipatory self-defense, leaves room for interpretation.
https://lieber.westpoint.edu/interpreting-law-self-defense/
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reposted by
Mike Schmitt
Eliav Lieblich
8 months ago
Please consider submitting!
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reposted by
Mike Schmitt
Ryan Goodman
7 months ago
<Thread> I figure I need to explain how extreme and irresponsible is the June 7 Memorandum federalizing the National Guard and authorizing regular armed forces. Those saying anything in support of this action may not realize what they’ve gotten into. (It will also escalate from here.) Preview⤵️
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reposted by
Mike Schmitt
Cordula Droege
8 months ago
❗️Come and join the Legal Division of the @ICRC! ✴️ Turn your vision for a better world, your belief in justice and humanity, in the protective power of the law, into
#IHL
advocacy.
careers.icrc.org/job/Geneva-%...
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Associate for the Legal Division
Associate for the Legal Division
https://careers.icrc.org/job/Geneva-%28GVA%29-Associate-for-the-Legal-Division-28763/1202974701/
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reposted by
Mike Schmitt
Articles of War
7 months ago
@mikeschmitt.bsky.social
& Alex Hernandez survey the law governing an occupying power’s
#seizure
of
#privateproperty
and explore the transfer of an occupying power’s nationals into the territory it occupies.
lieber.westpoint.edu/seizure-priv...
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Ukraine Symposium – Seizure of Private Real Property and Transfer of Civilians into Occupied Territory - Lieber Institute West Point
The law clearly prohibits the seizure of private real property and the transfer of the occupying power’s nationals into occupied territory.
https://lieber.westpoint.edu/seizure-private-real-property-transfer-civilians-occupied-territory/
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My thoughts with Major Alex Hernandez on Russia's seizure of real property in occupied territory and the transfer of Russian nationals into the area.
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7 months ago
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reposted by
Mike Schmitt
Reading Law School
8 months ago
Professor
@mikeschmitt.bsky.social
has co-authored a two-part series on the international law bearing on State support to non-state actors engaging in hostilities against another State. Part I is here:
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reposted by
Mike Schmitt
Reading Law School
8 months ago
For
@articlesofwar.bsky.social
, Professor
@mikeschmitt.bsky.social
has co-authored a post on the use of civilians as human shields by a military force from the perspective of the law of armed conflict and international criminal law.
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