Compiled by Sarah Willrich.
Articles
The U.S. and Lithuania Clash Over Belarusian Potash
Katsiaryna Shmatsina analyzed the mounting tensions between the United States and Lithuania over Lithuania’s enforcement of EU sanctions on potash exports from Belarus. Shmatsina explained that U.S. pressure forces Lithuania to choose between appeasing its key security partner and risking strengthening the Russian ally on its border, sidestepping the EU in the process.
Until recently, the official line from Vilnius was that there was no pressure from Washington to reopen the potash transit routes. However, behind closed doors in May, Foreign Minister Budrys acknowledged that “pressure is emerging.” For now, Vilnius carefully maintains its public stance while internal leaks expose the uncomfortable reality of mounting U.S. pressure. It is difficult not to wonder if the Lithuanian leadership is questioning the risks of defying Washington, as they likely weigh whether remaining firm on sanctions could jeopardize U.S. security guarantees and the overall quality of the bilateral relationship.
In the Line of Fire: Legal Risks for Tech in Conflict Zones
Adam Hickey, Veronica Glick, Rohith George, and Rachael O’Grady explained that technology companies whose infrastructure, such as data centers, may have both civilian and military applications face a range of threats when operating in conflict zones. The authors considered what international humanitarian law leaves unclear and how contract law may provide protections for companies.
Subject to any force majeure clause or other contractual mechanism that may excuse performance, the state entity remains liable for breach in accordance with the terms of the agreement. The practical enforcement of those contractual rights, however, may be affected by doctrines of sovereign immunity. Although many jurisdictions recognize exceptions to immunity for commercial transactions, the scope of those exceptions—and the extent to which they permit proceedings against a state or enforcement against state assets—varies considerably. In the United States, for example, disputes with federal agencies are governed by statutory regimes such as the Contract Disputes Act. Other jurisdictions apply their own sovereign immunity frameworks, which may affect the forum, procedure, or available remedies.
Podcasts
Lawfare Daily: Vinh Nguyen, Elham Tabassi, and Kat Duffy on How to Design a Better AI Regulator: Kate Klonick was joined by Vinh Nguyen, Elham Tabassi, and Kat Duffy to discuss recent calls for a U.S.-led Frontier AI Standards Body. They considered the potential benefits and drawbacks of a FINRA-like model and what it could mean for public trust, especially for allies who may be reluctant to accept a U.S. body as an international standard-setter.
Scaling Laws: Matt Abrams on Trust and the Migration to the Digital Age: Matt Abrams joined Kevin Frazier to explore the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the collapse of institutional trust, Abrams’s work rebuilding that trust, and the relationship between AI, information integrity, labor disruption, institutional legitimacy, and democratic resilience.
Documents
Sarah Willrich shared the Trump administration’s National Security Science & Technology Strategy, which seeks to support the administration’s 2025 National Security Strategy by prioritizing U.S. leadership in emerging technology development.
Support Lawfare
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn. Become a material supporter on Patreon. Sign up to receive Lawfare in your inbox. Check out relevant job openings on our Job Board.
Comments
Nothing yet. Say the first thing.
Sign in to join the conversation.