London: Giulio Chinappi, an Italian political analyst and researcher from the Center for Mediterranean Eurasia Studies (CeSEM), has highlighted concerns over the United States' unilateral actions, which he argues are jeopardizing the rule of law and undermining the credibility of international institutions, including the United Nations.
According to Islamic Republic News Agency, in an exclusive note for their London office, Chinappi discussed violations associated with the US and the Israeli regime, particularly in the West Asia region. He noted that the past year had unmasked a challenging reality about the international order.
Chinappi emphasized the devastation in the Gaza Strip, attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities, violations in Lebanon, and the frequent use of the US veto in the Security Council. He stated these events demonstrate how power politics can manipulate institutions designed to uphold the law. "When vetoes, pressure and sanctions replace accountability, the UN system's neutrality-and global security-erode," he remarked, highlighting shifting public opinion, especially in the global South, regarding the impartiality and reliability of institutions like the UN.
Specializing in international law, multipolarity, and geopolitical dynamics, Chinappi explained the tangible damage to the international order, stating it is "visible in the ruins of Gaza, in the precedent set when nuclear facilities in Iran became targets of open military attack." He argued that these developments challenge the post-1945 legal framework and warn of the potential erosion of institutional neutrality under political pressure.
Pointing to the foundational principles of the UN Charter, Chinappi noted that it centers on prohibiting the use of force, except in self-defense or with Security Council authorization, and on the peaceful resolution of disputes. Yet, he observed that powerful states have interpreted these constraints flexibly to suit strategic objectives, while demanding strict compliance from others. He cited the direct military attack on Iran's nuclear facilities as a prime example of this alarming trend.
Chinappi further explained that US actions have raised questions about regional stability and the integrity of the global legal order. UN human rights experts described such strikes as violations of the core prohibition on aggressive force, warning that normalizing 'preventive' or 'anticipatory' self-defense could lead to an era where 'might is right'.
He criticized the cautious language used by some institutions against illegal actions, noting that while human rights experts issued strong condemnations, technical or security-related agencies often avoid direct attribution of responsibility. This silence, particularly from bodies like the IAEA regarding attacks on member states, weakens deterrence against future attacks, undermines the confidence of non-Western states in global governance, and risks accelerating proliferation incentives.
Chinappi also addressed the ongoing crisis in Gaza, where institutional failings are evident. Despite multiple resolutions demanding a ceasefire and addressing the humanitarian catastrophe, weak and inconsistent pressure on Israel, combined with frequent US vetoes, have diluted accountability. He highlighted the disregard for the International Court of Justice's advisory opinion on Israel's policies in occupied Palestinian territory.
The analyst pointed to Lebanon as another example of eroding UN credibility due to repeated Israeli violations of Security Council Resolution 1701, even confirmed by UN peacekeepers. Chinappi concluded by warning against the pattern of dominance and coercion exerted by powerful forces, particularly the US and Israel, in shaping the operational boundaries of international institutions through veto power, political pressure, and sanctions, while claiming to uphold a 'rules-based order'.