Aurel Sari
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aurelsari.com
Aurel Sari
@aurelsari.com
Professor of Public International Law, University of Exeter
outrageous to claim that the US never “got anything out of NATO”
January 21, 2026 at 2:14 PM
this is just insufferable
January 21, 2026 at 2:08 PM
very difficult to stay zen
Stephen Miller,White House deputy chief of staff for policy&homeland security advisor:
Greenland is essential for America's national security.
American dollars, treasure, American blood, American ingenuity is what keeps Europe safe&the free world safe.Donald Trump's insisting that we be respected
January 19, 2026 at 8:49 PM
President Trump’s threats to seize Greenland by force raise the question whether Denmark could invoke Article 42(7) of the Treaty on European Union, the EU’s mutual assistance clause. Here’s my take on the matter.
January 14, 2026 at 9:54 AM
Reposted by Aurel Sari
In a nutshell: the rule of law is a fine thing for promoting one's values and interests. Couldn't agree more. The problem is that neither lawfare nor legal Statecraft will be of much use to the US if it dismantles the international legal order. Unless the aim of its lawfare strategy is just that.
"The United States should thus move beyond episodic lawfare and toward an explicit doctrine of legal statecraft: using law as a proactive, adaptive, shaping instrument of grand strategy," write Peter Dombrowski and Simon Reich.
Lawfare Is Not Enough: The U.S. Needs Legal Statecraft
Legal statecraft moves beyond lawfare, giving the U.S. a strategic instrument to shape the environment instead of playing defense.
www.lawfaremedia.org
January 9, 2026 at 3:46 PM
States that 'the UK provided enabling support in full compliance with international law' for the US interdiction of the Bella 1. Curious as to the legal basis for interdiction.

www.gov.uk/government/n...
UK provides support to U.S. seizure of Bella 1 accused of shadow fleet activities and Iran sanctions breaches
The UK has provided enabling support to the United States at their request to interdict the vessel Bella 1 today.
www.gov.uk
January 7, 2026 at 4:16 PM
Is it the same international law that is not available to Venezuela and not binding on the US that Kemi Badenoch expects the US to honour and available to Denmark in relation to Greenland?

#askingforafriend
January 6, 2026 at 12:52 PM
Reposted by Aurel Sari
Allies have increased our presence, activities and investments, to keep the Arctic safe and to deter adversaries.”
January 6, 2026 at 12:32 PM
Several lines about how this is a pivotal moment for Venezuela's future and then: "Finally, President, the United Kingdom reaffirms its commitment to international law and the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations."

What an embarrasing non-statement.

www.gov.uk/government/s...
The United Kingdom wants to see a safe and peaceful transition to a legitimate government that reflects the will of the Venezuelan people: UK statement at the UN Security Council
Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Chargé d’Affaires to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Venezuela.
www.gov.uk
January 5, 2026 at 6:03 PM
' “I’m not going to pretend this isn’t difficult, and it is important that we keep a very important ally like America onboard,” she said. “We have particularly the interests of Ukraine that we need to consider. But it’s meaningless if we don’t support international law.” '
January 5, 2026 at 10:34 AM
A detailed, authoritative and crystal clear analysis of some of the key international law questions raised by the US armed attack on Venezuela.
January 4, 2026 at 3:38 PM
good call
January 3, 2026 at 9:39 PM
try harder?
I am following the situation in Venezuela with great concern. The European Union calls for de-escalation and a resolution in full respect of international law and the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations.
January 3, 2026 at 3:45 PM
hola firenze, been a while
November 13, 2025 at 6:14 PM
The Helsinki District Court published its decision today in the Eagle S case, holding that the damage done to Finnish submarine cables was an 'incident of navigation' under UNCLOS and hence it had no jurisdiction. Quelle surprise.

Short official statement: tuomioistuimet.fi/material/sit...
tuomioistuimet.fi
October 3, 2025 at 9:51 AM
Reposted by Aurel Sari
"To get around these fundamental problems, the administration relies on the President making both factual and legal determinations by sheer fiat. In doing so, POTUS is giving himself a license to kill based on his own determinations and designations.”

theintercept.com/2025/10/02/v...
Leaked Document Justifies Boat Strikes as “Non-International Armed Conflict”
“The Trump administration is saying that one person — the president — now decides if the United States is going to war.”
theintercept.com
October 2, 2025 at 7:50 PM
provo, utah
October 1, 2025 at 10:13 AM
Just today: been asked to provide ETA by airline as a condition of boarding with no simple way of proving that I do not need one. I fully expect to be denied boarding at some point.
October 1, 2025 at 9:44 AM
Reposted by Aurel Sari
Yet Again: The U.K. Government Mischaracterizes Its Obligation to Prevent Genocide in Gaza

By Professors @tomdannenbaum.bsky.social and @janinadill.bsky.social

#UnitedKingdom #Gaza #Diplomacy
U.K.'s mischaracterization of obligation to prevent genocide in Gaza
Legal experts argue that the United Kingdom's government has misconstrued how its duties under the Genocide Convention apply to Gaza.
www.justsecurity.org
September 26, 2025 at 11:03 AM
September 27, 2025 at 8:49 AM
Full points to @rosatkins.bsky.social for the effort to get the law right. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Ros Atkins on... Israel's war in Gaza and proportionality
BBC Verify asked experts, in the UK and elsewhere, if Israel’s actions in Gaza have been proportionate.
www.bbc.co.uk
September 12, 2025 at 10:52 AM
'Might or might not have been an act of war' - sure, but measured against what standard?

Under the law of armed conflict, the incident would seem to qualify as an international armed conflict though...
Hi All, Great new Europe Dispatch column by @alanderminna.bsky.social The attack on Poland might or might not have been an act of war--but it needs a European response. All Russian drones that enter the air space of NATO European countries should be shot down. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
War Is In the Eye Of the Beholder
The State of the European Union speech took place while the Russian drone incursion into Poland was still unfolding. And that's pretty much the state of the EU, Minna Ålander writes.
open.substack.com
September 11, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Reposted by Aurel Sari
Striking Drug Cartels under the Jus ad Bellum and Law of Armed Conflict

By top laws of war expert @mikeschmitt.bsky.social

www.justsecurity.org/120235/drug-...
Striking Drug Cartels under the Jus ad Bellum and Law of Armed Conflict
Legal expert discusses laws of war and law on the resort to force in U.S. military action against Venezuela's Tren de Aragua.
www.justsecurity.org
September 10, 2025 at 1:06 PM