International law, ‘optional’ for powerful states
The article argues that public international law is increasingly becoming 'optional' for powerful states, leading to the erosion of a rules-based international order. It cites numerous instances of violations across various domains, including the use of force (e.g., Russia-Ukraine, US-Iraq), maritime law (e.g., China in South China Sea), international humanitarian law (e.g., Syria, Yemen), human rights treaties (e.g., China-Uyghurs, Israel-Gaza), arms control regimes, and environmental law (e.g., Paris Agreement commitments). The author attributes this impunity to the paralysis of multilateral institutions like the UN Security Council and the International Criminal Court, emphasizing that power, not principle, is determining outcomes, with severe consequences for global peace and stability.
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