Global legal order under threat: Expert warns of financing crisis and archival risks

Regarding the practical implications of the US decision to leave the Mechanism, the successor to the Hague Tribunal, Vukusic warned of a worrying lack of funds. Given that Washington was a primary architect and financier of the institution, the archives and the execution of sentences are now under scrutiny.

"The situation is certainly concerning because we are in an unprecedented scenario. The US was a vital factor in establishing and funding not just the Mechanism, but the United Nations as well," Vukusic stated. She emphasized that the Mechanism has been facing a financial crisis for some time. Her primary fear is that a lack of funding could lead to the disappearance of online archives, which is critical in an era of widespread disinformation and genocide denial. While the execution of sentences remains stable for now, as convicts serve time in various partner countries, the digital legacy of the court is at risk.

Resistance and the future of peace

When asked about the message sent to victims in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the fear of historical revisionism, the professor noted that citizens must be the creators of their own future. While the actions of the Trump White House are not positive, Vukusic urged against panic. She stressed that peace is ultimately built by local citizens and that the fate of the region depends on their decisions, regardless of shifting power centers.

Aggression in Latin America

Addressing the situation in Latin America and the US approach, a blend of the Monroe Doctrine and "America First" principles, Vukusic described it as a blatant violation of international law.

"We are witnessing a clear breach of the UN Charter, which prohibits armed intervention without Security Council approval or self-defense. This is manifest aggression," she explained. She argued that the law still exists; it is simply being broken by a powerful actor. Vukusic called on medium and small states to be vocal in defending the international order, asserting that a world where "might makes right" leaves no one safe.

The role of state support

The professor clarified that UN institutions and the Hague courts depend entirely on the political will of states. "Legal frameworks and institutions still exist, but they cannot act without support. The UN Secretary-General cannot change the situation by magic; it requires states to exert pressure," she noted.

Vukusic concluded by addressing the challenges of reconciliation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, suggesting that while progress may be slower than expected, the work of establishing facts and maintaining communal relations must continue despite the current global crisis.