An International Law Assessment of U.S. Uses of Force During the Second Trump Administration by Prof. Michael Schmitt

In this lecture, Prof. Michael N. Schmitt (of the University of Reading and an HLS PILAC affiliate) will examine selected United States uses of force during the second Trump administration through the lens of international law. He will pay particular attention to the legal bases advanced for those operations and their relationships to relevant frameworks, including the jus ad bellum, the jus in bello (international humanitarian law/law of armed conflict), and international human rights law. Drawing on specific episodes across the administration, Professor Schmitt will assess whether those operations may be regarded as lawful under international law.

Rita E. Hauser Professor of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law Gabriella Blum will introduce Prof. Schmitt.