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International Law,
Government

Mar. 7, 2025

The law(lessness) of forceful annexation

President Donald Trump wants foreign lands and resources, but post-WWII international law stands firmly in his way. Here's why his annexation dreams violate binding obligations.

Dan Jacobson

Attorney

Phone: (714) 505-4872

Email: dlj@jacobsonlawyers.com

Dan Jacobson is a practicing attorney in Tustin; a law professor-emeritus; a retired Governor of the California Insurance Guarantee Association, having been appointed to that position by Congressman John Garamendi, when Congressman Garamendi was California's Insurance Commission; and, a recently retired member of California's Board of Accountancy, having been appointed to that position by Assembly-Speaker Anthony Rendon.

The law(lessness) of forceful annexation
Shutterstock

"[T]he central element of robbery is force or fear." People v. Marquez, 78 Cal.App.4th 1308, (2000). The law against one nation taking the land of another has a similar central element. "The prohibition of annexations forbids states from acquiring, through the threat or use of force, the territory of another state." Brunk, Ingrid and Hakimi, Monica, "The Prohibition of Annexations and the Foundations of Modern International La...

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