Catch up: Episode 12: Examining the US Use of Force Against Venezuela

Posted: 8th January 2026

 Episode 12:

Examining the US Use of Force Against Venezuela

We’re excited to share the latest episode of International Law in Crisis? — Episode 12: Examining the US Use of Force Against Venezuela, now available wherever you get your podcasts.

In this timely and critical conversation, host Lara Bird-Leakey is joined by international law expert Dr Vusra Suedi to unpack one of the most consequential legal controversies of early 2026: the United States’ recent use of military force against Venezuela and the legal claims put forward to justify it.

Lara and Dr Suedi explore questions at the heart of international law and contemporary geopolitics:

• Does the United States have a legitimate claim of self-defense against Venezuela under the UN Charter?

• Can drug cartels and non-state actors ever meet the legal threshold of an “armed attack” justifying the use of force?

• What is the threshold of an armed attack under international law, and does the current situation meet it?

• Is the reality simple, or are we witnessing a dangerous expansion of military action justified after the fact?

• Has the U.S. initiated an effective regime change operation for political and economic ends, and is there any credible legal basis for doing so?

This episode is essential listening for anyone engaged with international law, human rights, geopolitics, or global governance in an era of rising great-power competition and contested legal norms.

 Listen to Episode 12 now on your preferred podcast platform. Just search for Britain Palestine Project.

Thank you for tuning in, and please consider sharing this episode with your network.

Best regards,

The Britain Palestine Project Team