'New phenomenon of dangerous rhetoric': World leaders embrace proud disregard for international law

Gavin Lee is pleased to welcome Philippe Bolopion. Executive Director of Human Rights Watch. He describes a profound and accelerating shift in the conduct of war, marked not merely by violations of international humanitarian law, but by an unprecedented openness in asserting, even embracing, such violations. What distinguishes this moment is not the erosion of norms alone, but the rhetorical normalisation of their abandoning any respect for civilians and international law. Across the globe, there is an emerging pattern of discourse that treats the laws of war not as constraints, but as mere optional considerations.