Cartel Boats (thread 5), Episode 4: Grotius vs. the Drug War: How a 17th‑Century Jurist Would Judge U.S. Sea Strikes

Hugo Grotius, the 17th‑century founder of modern international law, would assess U.S. attacks on drug‑running boats by applying the principles of Mare Liberum and De Iure Belli ac Pacis: the freedom of the seas, the universality of natural law, and strict limits on the use of force.

He would offer a cautious endorsement only if actions met proper authority, just cause, right intention, proportionality, and due process, and he would insist on clear legal authorization, transparency, and international norms to prevent powerful states from bending rules for convenience.