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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World

International law and the difficulty of dealing with Trump at war

Donald Trump boards Air Force One at Palm Beach, 1 March 2026.
Donald Trump boards Air Force One at Palm Beach, 1 March 2026. Photograph: Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters

International law has evolved a lot since the 17th century, when sovereign nation states became the agreed structure of Europe. The United Nations charter, agreed after the second world war, aimed to “save succeeding generations from the scourge of war”.

While some European leaders still mention it in their social media posts and it gets a tick‑box mention in many official statements, clearly international law is today in critical condition.

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