| Author (Person) | Dworkin, Anthony |
|---|---|
| Publisher | European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) |
| Series Title | Policy Brief |
| Series Details | July 2013 |
| Publication Date | 2013 |
| Content Type | Journal | Series | Blog, News |
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The drone strike that has just killed at least 17 people in Pakistan is a reminder that a new era of warfare has dawned. The EU’s response to this has been largely passive. But as the technology spreads (including to EU member states) this must change, and new rules for drone warfare drawn up. A new ECFR policy brief – “Drones and targeted killing: defining a European position” by Anthony Dworkin – argues that the EU should now take a stronger stand on the issue of drone strikes. At the same time, it should undertake an effort to work with the United States to set a new standard for when drone attacks are permissible. The EU’s position should be based on the idea that outside conventional military theatres lethal force should only be used when there is a serious, imminent threat to innocent life. Although President Obama has embraced a similar position as a matter of policy, he interprets it more loosely. But changes in US policy mean there may be a greater chance for transatlantic dialogue on drones. The EU should press him to follow through on his rhetoric and restrict US drone strikes, and explore the idea of self-defence as their legal basis. The EU should encourage greater transparency and accountability over US drones, and work to end the notion of an unbounded war against terrorist groups. Otherwise there is a danger that China, Russia, and others could use the US drone campaign as a precedent to justify targeted strikes against groups they declare to be enemies. |
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| Source Link | http://ecfr.eu/page/-/ECFR84_DRONES_BRIEF.pdf |
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| Subject Categories | Business and Industry, Security and Defence |
| Countries / Regions | Europe |
