The hottest International Law Substack posts right now

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Top World Politics Topics

UN expert: 'Outrageous' Western sanctions are 'suffocating' Syria, may be crimes against humanity

Geopolitical Economy Report • 279 implied HN points • 14 Nov 22
🌍 World Politics International Law
  1. The UN expert condemned Western sanctions on Syria as 'outrageous' and harmful, possibly amounting to crimes against humanity.
  2. Sanctions have led to drastic economic downturn in Syria, with 90% living below the poverty line and essential goods becoming scarce.
  3. The impact of sanctions extends to critical areas such as healthcare, education, and basic services like water and electricity, putting the Syrian population in life-threatening conditions.

Talking with Glenn Greenwald

John’s Substack • 6 implied HN points • 25 Jan 26
🌍 World Politics International Law
  1. The administration is portrayed as willing to directly interfere in Venezuela, including backing plans to kidnap or seize its leader and effectively run the country.
  2. Invoking the Monroe Doctrine is being used to justify intervention, but this is a distorted reading that ignores the doctrine's historical limits.
  3. Such aggressive policies risk violating international norms, destabilizing the region, and undermining long-term U.S. credibility and security.

In mind-blowingly hypocritical UN speech, Biden tries to rewrite history

Geopolitical Economy Report • 318 implied HN points • 22 Sep 22
🌍 World Politics International Law
  1. In a UN speech, Biden criticized Russia for 'imperial ambitions' despite his own involvement in wars like Iraq, Libya, Syria, and Afghanistan.
  2. Journalist Ben Norton fact-checked Biden's UN speech, highlighting the contradictions in his claims.
  3. The US has been involved in conflicts like the proxy war in Ukraine, with CIA training in Ukraine, showcasing complex international relations.

Global Biosecurity in the Age of Low-Probability, High-Consequence (LPHC) Biological Risks-

Who is Robert Malone • 5 implied HN points • 29 Jan 26
🌍 World Politics International Law
  1. Current international biosecurity rules strongly ban biological weapons but are institutionally weak and fragmented. They lack verification, enforcement, and do not cover accidental, dual‑use, or self‑propagating risks.
  2. Low‑probability, high‑consequence biological risks often fall outside existing treaties and can produce irreversible, cross‑border harms. Managing these risks requires proactive international coordination, shared norms, and continuous risk monitoring rather than only national or reactive responses.
  3. The global framework must shift from mere prohibition to collective risk management by adding verification, common biosafety standards, transparency, and worst‑case preparedness. Strengthening these elements would help align biotechnology innovation with safety and reduce the chance of catastrophic global events.

What if the US seizes Greenland?

Optimally Irrational • 6 implied HN points • 20 Jan 26
🌍 World Politics International Law
  1. Seizing Greenland by force would be a massive political and geopolitical blunder. It would gain little but risk damaging America’s alliances and long-term influence.
  2. International relations aren’t just a Hobbesian free-for-all; states sustain cooperation through norms and repeated interaction because it’s mutually beneficial. Breaking those conventions would undermine the rule-based order that helps preserve U.S. power.
  3. Even if a takeover were politically possible at home, the international costs and backlash would be severe and short-sighted, making the move strategically counterproductive.
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NATO Was Inside All of Us the Whole Time

I Might Be Wrong • 6 implied HN points • 22 Jan 26
🌍 World Politics International Law
  1. NATO’s core promise of mutual defense is effectively dead because current U.S. leadership is unlikely to honor Article 5, leaving the alliance as a coordination club without real enforcement.
  2. International agreements only work when parties care about credibility and are willing to enforce commitments, so when a major player abandons those norms the rules become optional and lose power.
  3. Allies are already adjusting to that reality and NATO could be rebuilt under different leadership, so the pragmatic response is to accept the break and begin planning new or renewed security arrangements.

Words Of No Power.

Trying to Understand the World • 5 implied HN points • 21 Jan 26
🌍 World Politics International Law
  1. Words and treaties usually record what states already do, they don’t by themselves make things happen; for a text to matter it needs either real enforcement or broad shared support.
  2. International agreements are limited and often vague: they bind only signatories, can be withdrawn, and their meaning is shaped by politics and interpretation, not pure legal logic.
  3. Expecting documents alone to solve hard political problems is wishful thinking; real outcomes depend on evidence, practical capacity, and the political will to act, not just on nice words on paper.

JJM vs John Bolton on Venezuela

John’s Substack • 8 implied HN points • 06 Jan 26
🌍 World Politics International Law
  1. The discussion centered on a reported U.S. plan to abduct Venezuela’s president, raising clear legal and ethical concerns.
  2. Two commentators tackled the same issues but reached sharply different conclusions about whether such an operation would be justified or wise.
  3. The exchange shows that U.S. intervention in Venezuela deeply divides expert opinion and fuels a broader debate over foreign policy and interventionism.

Israel’s Gaza speech code

Nonzero Newsletter • 587 implied HN points • 27 Oct 23
🌍 World Politics International Law
  1. Israel demanded the resignation of UN Secretary General after he spoke truth about Palestinians.
  2. Understanding bad behavior does not excuse it, but can help reduce its frequency.
  3. Deeper understanding of conflicts like in Ukraine and Gaza can lead to better outcomes for all parties involved.

Bioweapons Treaty Update - Progress!

Who is Robert Malone • 10 implied HN points • 20 Dec 25
🌍 World Politics International Law
  1. The U.S. is pushing to strengthen the Biological Weapons Convention by adding a verification regime with real teeth to stop the development of biological weapons.
  2. Officials are proposing to use AI and modern tools to boost transparency, confidence-building, supply-chain monitoring, early detection, attribution, and DNA synthesis screening to improve BWC implementation.
  3. Relying on AI for verification brings political, legal, technical, and data-security challenges, so trusted data, transparent models, and broad international cooperation will be needed to make it work.

Let Them Eat Dirt

The Chris Hedges Report • 416 implied HN points • 08 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics International Law
  1. The final stage of Israel's genocide in Gaza, mass starvation, is happening with international community not intervening.
  2. Israel's actions in shutting down UNRWA and preventing humanitarian aid are considered war crimes and defiance of international law.
  3. Starvation in Gaza is causing immense suffering and death, leading to extreme hunger and destitution among the population.

Who is Sovereignty For?

I Might Be Wrong • 5 implied HN points • 14 Jan 26
🌍 World Politics International Law
  1. Sovereignty means each state controls its own affairs and outsiders are expected not to interfere. That idea helped stop religious wars by allowing different beliefs to coexist under their own rules.
  2. Sovereignty can shield authoritarian rulers from outside intervention, creating a dilemma when citizens try to overthrow abusive regimes. Recent uprisings highlight the tension between popular demands for change and the norm of noninterference.
  3. Making sovereignty absolute reduced religiously motivated massacres but shifted conflict toward competition over territory and resources. In short, sovereignty brings order but can also legitimize bad governments and new forms of violence.

Xmas Eve with The Judge

John’s Substack • 8 implied HN points • 24 Dec 25
🌍 World Politics International Law
  1. Free speech is eroding across Western countries and that decline is presented as a serious threat to democratic life.
  2. There are signs of a renewed aggressive U.S. foreign policy — from talk of annexing Greenland to harsher actions in Cuba and Venezuela and risky naval moves that could provoke China.
  3. Tensions over Israel are growing both inside the Republican Party and between leaders, with claims like Trump being labeled the "first Jewish president" and pressure from Netanyahu to attack Iran raising the risk of new Middle East conflict.

Europe's Troubles Are Just Begining

John’s Substack • 10 implied HN points • 10 Dec 25
🌍 World Politics International Law
  1. Europe looks set to face growing instability as the Ukraine war and other geopolitical pressures continue to unfold.
  2. Some political leaders are seeking legal shortcuts like asking for pardons before convictions, which undermines norms of justice and accountability.
  3. The U.S. policy of killing people in small boats near Venezuela is highly controversial and hard for officials to defend, and staying outside the ICC limits the risk of international prosecution.

Is Sanctioning Russia Permissible?

Going Awol • 39 implied HN points • 01 Mar 24
🌍 World Politics International Law
  1. The success of sanctions on Russia depends on their goal, such as hindering Putin's ability to fund his armed forces and increasing Ukraine's chances of winning.
  2. Sanctioning state officials involved in an unjust war is easier to justify compared to sanctions that harm innocent citizens.
  3. Imposing moderate economic sanctions on Russia, even if it harms innocent citizens, can be morally permissible if the goal is to prevent further harm and the burden is not excessively high.

Genocide as Colonial Erasure (w/ Francesca Albanese) | The Chris Hedges Report

The Chris Hedges Report • 161 implied HN points • 29 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics International Law
  1. Genocide is recognized as a process, and many actions taken against the Palestinian people, including mass killings and forced displacement, indicate a systematic effort to destroy them as a group.
  2. The situation in both Gaza and the West Bank shows a deteriorating humanitarian crisis, with conditions worsening and acts of violence against Palestinians increasing significantly over time.
  3. International responses, including arms embargos and legal actions, are crucial to address ongoing violence and prevent further genocide; the failure to halt these actions raises concerns about global accountability and respect for human rights.

Washington's $300 billion dilemma

The Dossier • 303 implied HN points • 28 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics International Law
  1. Western powers imposed sanctions on Russia by freezing $300 billion of Russian assets in the US and Europe, aiming to weaken the Russian economy, but the impact on the Russian war effort has been limited.
  2. The idea of seizing Russia's frozen $300 billion stash is being considered by the Biden Administration and Congress as a punitive measure, but legalizing such action through Congress is required.
  3. Seizing the $300 billion would be an unprecedented event with potential far-reaching consequences, including implications on the U.S. dollar's status as a global reserve currency and market signals about its stability.

Crimes in the Caribbean

John’s Substack • 9 implied HN points • 07 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics International Law
  1. The US is accused of carrying out lethal attacks on small boats in the Caribbean without justification, including follow-up strikes that killed survivors.
  2. Critics say there’s no evidence the victims were identified or posed a threat, and that the Navy or Coast Guard could verify who’s on those boats before using lethal force.
  3. Political leaders appear to be using these actions to show toughness, but many view this as bullying rather than true strength.

The Horror, The Horror

The Chris Hedges Report • 367 implied HN points • 11 Nov 23
🌍 World Politics International Law
  1. Israel's genocidal attacks in Gaza are killing hundreds, including children, and targeting hospitals.
  2. International and humanitarian laws seem meaningless in the face of Israel's actions in Gaza.
  3. The relentless bombardment by Israel is destroying Gaza's health system, leaving hospitals and patients under fire.

Can You Commit Genocide In Self-Defense?

Gideon's Substack • 33 implied HN points • 31 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics International Law
  1. The definition of genocide focuses on the intent to destroy a specific group. It's important to understand this intent when discussing actions taken during conflicts.
  2. Some believe that Israel's actions in Gaza are not aimed at destroying the Palestinian people but are instead focused on combating Hamas, which complicates discussions around the genocide label.
  3. The conversation about self-defense vs. genocide raises questions about the justifications for actions taken in war. It highlights the need for dialogue and political solutions rather than escalating violence.

World Order on the Line

Diane Francis • 379 implied HN points • 31 Jan 22
🌍 World Politics International Law
  1. The United Nations Security Council is having a very important meeting, the biggest since the Cuban Missile Crisis. This shows how serious the situation is right now.
  2. The United States is pushing to label Russia as an 'aggressor state'. They want to discuss sanctions against Russia and even consider kicking them out of the UN.
  3. This emergency session highlights the tension in global politics and how countries are trying to respond to conflicts. It is a critical moment for international relations.

August 16, 2025

Letters from an American • 23 implied HN points • 17 Aug 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics International Law
  1. Trump met with Putin in Alaska, which was controversial since Putin is accused of serious crimes. This meeting appeared more like a power play for Putin than a productive dialogue.
  2. There were conflicting signals about what both leaders wanted from the summit. While Trump seemed optimistic, it was unclear if any real progress was made on important issues like Ukraine.
  3. Russia's presence at this meeting suggested that they want to reestablish their power on the world stage. This worried leaders in Ukraine and Europe, who thought Trump might make concessions to Putin.

The Moral Bankruptcy of the West

John’s Substack • 84 implied HN points • 24 Dec 24
🌍 World Politics International Law
  1. Recent reports accuse Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. Organizations like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have highlighted these issues.
  2. Countries like the United States, Britain, and Germany, which claim to care about human rights, are seen as supporting these actions rather than stopping them.
  3. Many human rights advocates and the media in the West have been unusually silent about the situation in Gaza, raising questions about their moral stance.

How Western Judges Became Chinese State Puppets

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 55 implied HN points • 25 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics International Law
  1. Some Western judges are working in Hong Kong's highest court, but it's seen as supporting China's strict government instead of promoting justice.
  2. Lord Jonathan Sumption, a former UK Supreme Court member, criticized how the law is misused to silence dissent against the Chinese Communist Party.
  3. After seeing how the legal system operates in Hong Kong, Sumption decided he no longer wanted to be involved with it.

Ukraine, Taiwan, and the Bullies

Diane Francis • 379 implied HN points • 22 Apr 21
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics International Law
  1. Putin and China are increasingly aggressive, and their actions present a big challenge for Biden and the U.S. They are acting like bullies and trying to expand their influence.
  2. Both Ukraine and Taiwan are standing strong against these threats. Ukraine is preparing for possible war, while Taiwan is building up its defenses.
  3. The world needs to work together to stop the aggression from Russia and China. Biden must rally support from other countries to protect global peace and security.

The WHO Pandemic Agreement may be worrying, but it is also really stupid

eugyppius: a plague chronicle • 160 implied HN points • 23 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics International Law
  1. The WHO Pandemic Agreement raises concerns but also appears impractical, focusing on bureaucratic procedures rather than concrete solutions.
  2. The Agreement involves bloated language and vague aspirations, lacking clear strategies to improve global healthcare.
  3. Key components, like the WHO PABS System and Global Supply Chain Network, reveal convoluted bureaucratic efforts with little practical benefit.

👉🏼 Reminder 💬

The Cosmopolitan Globalist • 2 implied HN points • 11 Jan 26
🌍 World Politics International Law
  1. The CG reading group meeting starts in two hours and is scheduled for 4:30 pm Paris time on Sunday.
  2. The discussion will focus on current events—especially Venezuela—and will also cover Greenland, events in Iran, and the Monroe Doctrine.
  3. All subscribers are welcome with no reading list; a Zoom link is provided and you can ask not to be called on if you prefer.

The Presidency is not performance art

Unreported Truths • 48 implied HN points • 05 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics International Law
  1. The idea of taking over Gaza and removing its people is considered insane and close to genocide. It's a dangerous move and goes against international laws.
  2. Trump's suggestion to handle Gaza raises concerns about U.S. involvement in more wars. Many people have criticized him for shifting away from previous views on military action.
  3. It's crucial for Republicans and other leaders to stand up against extreme proposals. Stability in the world is important, and reckless statements can lead to serious consequences.

Against Magical Legal Thinking, or: Why the WHO Pandemic Agreement is an expression of the problem, and not the problem itself

eugyppius: a plague chronicle • 88 implied HN points • 25 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics International Law
  1. The WHO Pandemic Agreement is not the main problem, but an expression of a larger issue regarding international pandemic management.
  2. Proposed amendments to the International Health Regulations seem problematic due to vague and error-prone phrasing, expanding WHO's power in managing pandemics.
  3. Global health regulations and agreements may prioritize agendas over individual freedoms, like prioritizing free pharmaceutical products over intellectual property rights.

US bombing of Iraq and Syria is illegal aggression — Occupiers have no right to ‘self-defense’

Geopolitical Economy Report • 139 implied HN points • 29 Jun 21
🌍 World Politics International Law
  1. The US believes it can bomb and occupy other countries without consequence, but people are resisting US hegemony globally.
  2. US strikes on Iraq and Syria were illegal under international law as they were acts of aggression against sovereign nations.
  3. The presence of US troops in Iraq and Syria is illegal, and the Pentagon's justification of self-defense is not valid under international law.

Covenants, Without the Sword

Unpopular Front • 59 implied HN points • 27 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics International Law
  1. International Court of Justice rulings can impact a nation's legitimacy and response.
  2. Israel's existence is tied to international support and legal arrangements, not just military force.
  3. The concept of genocide in conflicts like the one in Israel raises complex moral and legal questions.

“Freedom of Navigation” Claimed by U.S. is NOT “Freedom of Navigation” under International Law

Pekingnology • 52 implied HN points • 03 Jun 23
🌍 World Politics International Law
  1. The "Freedom of Navigation" claimed by the United States is different from the concept in international law.
  2. There are limitations to the right of navigation under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and general international law.
  3. The U.S. uses its "Freedom of Navigation Operations" as a unilateral tool to advance its global strategy, rather than to maintain international maritime order.

Jeffrey Sachs on Diplomacy, Conflict, and the Path to Peace (Ad-Free Video)

Critical Mass • 7 implied HN points • 18 Dec 24
🌍 World Politics International Law
  1. The roots of the Ukraine war are linked to NATO's eastward expansion, which broke promises made to Russia. Finding a solution might need diplomatic efforts, including talks led by unexpected leaders like Donald Trump.
  2. The Palestinian situation in Gaza is viewed as unjust and similar to apartheid, with a two-state solution being the best way forward. This idea aligns with international views but is not accepted by the current Israeli government.
  3. Engaging in respectful and open discussions about tough topics is important. It’s essential to keep dialogue going, even when there are disagreements, to explore solutions for complex issues.

Under the Sea: Submarines in the Great War

Big Serge Thought • 2 implied HN points • 29 Jul 25
💾 History International Law
  1. World War I changed how countries thought about war. People were shocked by the high number of deaths and realized the war would not be quick or easy.
  2. Submarines became a powerful new weapon during the war because they could attack from below the surface without being easily seen. This changed naval tactics forever.
  3. Germany's use of unrestricted submarine warfare angered many countries, including the United States. This led to debates about the rules of war and how far countries could go to win.