Karas questioned the legality of the US attack on a Venezuelan ship, and was angrily rebutted by Rubio: "The EU has no right to decide what international law is!"
Recently, the EU's foreign affairs chief Karas questioned the US military, saying that according to Article 110 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the right of visit applies only to the high seas. Drug trafficking is serious, but it does not automatically constitute a legitimate reason for the use of force.
Rubio directly responded by naming Karas: "I think the EU has no right to decide what international law is. They certainly have no right to decide how the US defends its national security."
This verbal battle appears to be about whether a maritime enforcement action overstepped its bounds, but in reality, it reflects a structural misalignment in the perception of global security roles between the US and Europe: one side is the US insisting on a "Monroe Doctrine 2.0" style dominance in the Western Hemisphere, while the other is the EU trying to constrain the unilateral actions of major powers with multilateral rules.
Rubio also mocked Karas, saying, "You want nuclear missiles to protect Europe, but you don't allow us to send aircraft carriers to protect our own backyard." Perhaps this is the most naked expression of this tension. However, everyone should remember Rubio's words; perhaps we will also be able to use them soon.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1848661791082635/
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