Nico Krisch, a professor of international law, highlights the concerning trend of states increasingly normalizing politically motivated killings and abductions of leaders as instruments of power. He argues that such actions erode international legal norms and shift the balance of global politics, where the power dynamics are driven more by fear than by reputation. Krisch raises critical questions about the asymmetric nature of the international system and the legitimacy of state interventions in regime change, considering the challenges that smaller nations face in maintaining sovereignty amid rising global anarchy.

Krisch cites a recent Economist article that emphasizes the rarity of one nation's leader ordering the death of another's, reflecting on the assassination of Iranian leader Ali Khamenei as a troubling benchmark. He explains that historical infrequent occurrences of such events were tied to a broader understanding of state conduct, governed by legal frameworks and mutual respect. This shift towards normalized extrajudicial actions indicates a worrying departure from established norms and challenges the future of international relations.

In his discourse, Krisch also addresses the illusion held by Western nations about the global legal order and the differing perspectives held by the Global South, where perceived double standards in international law have fostered distrust. He emphasizes the need for collective action among countries such as the Czech Republic to assert their sovereignty and safeguard against the disruptions to the international order posed by major powers like the USA and Russia, particularly in times of increasing geopolitical instability.