December 17, 2025
The Venezuelan Air Strikes and the Rule of Law
Are the Venezuelan Boat Strikes legal? What legal regime governs these actions and what state institutions exercise oversight and accountability? General counsel and senior fellow Carrie Cordero joined the Society for the Rule of Law to discuss those questions and more.
All lawyers- and all members of the US Armed Services- swear an oath to uphold the Constitution and adhere to legal and ethical obligations. In matters of national defense and foreign policy, courts have traditionally given significant deference to the President as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. Yet, even that deference has its limits- the recent boat strikes off the Venezuelan coast have raised questions of legality, constitutional overreach, and potential accountability for those involved.
Are the recent boat strikes lawful, and what legal standards are used for making this determination? What oversight mechanisms oversee unilateral U.S. military action against non-state actors? What legal status do alleged narco-traffickers enjoy? What legal and ethical obligations do Armed Service Members have if given unlawful orders?
Watch the full event at The Society for the Rule of Law.
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