Episode 39: Holding the Line

About this episode

The episode discusses the legality of US military actions in the Caribbean and the implications of a recent UN advisory opinion on international law.

In this episode, Philippa Webb and Marko Milanovic are joined by Nicolas Angelet and Oona Hathaway to discuss the legality of the US strikes against suspected drug boats in the Caribbean and the additional threats made by the United States against Venezuela, which include a possible land invasion. The hosts and their guests then turn to the recent UNRWA advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, discussing some of the interesting questions that it raises, including the inviolability of UN premises during armed conflict. In doing so, they also reflect on the downward spiral of the international legal order.

People in this episode

Hosts: Philippa Webb, Marko Milanovic

Guests: Nicolas Angelet, Oona Hathaway

Topics covered

• international law
• US military actions
• drug trafficking
• Venezuela
• UN advisory opinions
• armed conflict
• legal order

Keywords

• US strikes
• drug boats
• Venezuela invasion
• UNRWA
• International Court of Justice
• armed conflict
• international legal order

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: International Court of Justice, UNRWA

Places: United States, Venezuela

More episodes of EJIL: The Podcast!

• Episode 43: Sudan—Does international law have anything to say? · April 23, 2026 · 53 min
• Episode 42: Russia, Imperial Continuities and Histories of International Law · April 7, 2026 · 50 min
• Episode 41: Reading Recommendations · March 3, 2026 · 4 min
• Episode 41: Thinking through Rupture in International Economic Law: Views from Latin America · March 3, 2026 · 50 min
• Episode 40: Palestinian Legal Frontiers: SC Res 2803 and beyond · December 23, 2025 · 57 min
• Episode 38: Non-intervention— past, present and future · October 16, 2025 · 51 min