Michael Hanna
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mwhanna.crisisgroup.org
Michael Hanna
@mwhanna.crisisgroup.org
Director, U.S. Program, International Crisis Group; Non-Resident Senior Fellow, Reiss Center on Law and Security, NYU School of Law
Amazing to see these recycled arguments about the magical attributes of air power. What in recent U.S. historical experience could lead someone to write this?
November 7, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Reposted by Michael Hanna
NEW:

In @justsecurity.org I analyze the Trump administration's reported theory for how it can continue its lethal maritime strikes despite the time limit on unauthorized military action imposed by the War Powers Resolution.

www.justsecurity.org/123844/war-p...
Dissecting the Trump Administration’s Effort to Circumvent the War Powers Resolution for Boat Strikes
Analysis of Trump administration's claim that War Powers Resolution's regulating US troops in "hostilities" does not apply to boat strikes.
www.justsecurity.org
November 3, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Reposted by Michael Hanna
When Trump-Xi meet will they build on trade détente their teams negotiated? Broaden talks to broach security issues? Pursue balance of military power that allows 🇺🇸🇨🇳to feel sufficiently assured that respective core interests are secure?
- @mwhanna.crisisgroup.org

www.crisisgroup.org/asia-pacific...
Making the Most of the Trump-Xi Meeting | International Crisis Group
The world will be watching when the leaders of the two foremost global powers confer in South Korea on 30 October. They should use the opportunity to de-escalate the U.S.-China trade standoff, steady ...
www.crisisgroup.org
October 29, 2025 at 11:48 PM
My colleague Ali Wyne has a scene-setter ahead of the Trump-Xi meeting tomorrow in South Korea. In addition to de-escalating trade tensions, he argues that Trump should strive to reinforce a fragile status quo and avoid under-developed policy improvisations.

www.crisisgroup.org/asia-pacific...
Making the Most of the Trump-Xi Meeting | International Crisis Group
The world will be watching when the leaders of the two foremost global powers confer in South Korea on 30 October. They should use the opportunity to de-escalate the U.S.-China trade standoff, steady ...
www.crisisgroup.org
October 29, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Reposted by Michael Hanna
🎧 SPECIAL EPISODE | Hold Your Fire!

Our experts discuss what the RSF’s takeover of Darfur’s El Fasher means for the trajectory of Sudan’s war and hopes for peace.

www.crisisgroup.org/africa/sudan...
Special Episode: What Does the RSF’s Seizure of El Fasher Mean for Sudan’s War? | International Crisis Group
This week on Hold Your Fire!, Richard talks with Crisis Group experts Shewit Woldemichael and Alan Boswell about what the RSF’s takeover of Darfur’s El Fasher means for the trajectory of Sudan’s war, ...
www.crisisgroup.org
October 29, 2025 at 1:14 PM
The exact circumstances that prompted Israeli’s bombing in Gaza today remain disputed, but the incident will be an early test for the various guarantors and the ceasefire monitoring body the U.S. has stood up in recent weeks. Will be problematic if there is divergence among the guarantors.
October 28, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Reposted by Michael Hanna
The U.S. pressure campaign in the Caribbean risks destabilizing the broader Andes region, with potentially catastrophic spillover effects.

Our latest statement from @CrisisGroup

🧵 on Colombia takeaways 👇

www.crisisgroup.org/latin-americ...
Beware the Slide Toward Regime Change in Venezuela | International Crisis Group
The Trump administration is dispatching military assets to the Caribbean and sinking boats it claims ferry drugs. While it appears the deployment is part of a plan to depose Venezuelan President Nicól...
www.crisisgroup.org
October 23, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Reposted by Michael Hanna
Ukraine wants security guarantees. What is it asking for exactly, why hasn't it gotten what it wants, and what's it likely to get in the future? New @crisisgroup.org explainer lays it out.
High Stakes Promises: The Challenge of Security Guarantees for Ukraine | International Crisis Group
Ukraine is asking its partners for security guarantees – ideally now, but certainly before it makes any deal with Russia. In this Q&A, Crisis Group experts explain why this topic is so fraught for Ukr...
www.crisisgroup.org
October 23, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Biden's policies on Gaza were a catastrophic failure, but it's misleading to see Trump's ability to bend Netanyahu as an obvious example of what Biden should've done. Biden failed to even try to use influence and leverage, but if he had it would've been a massive political battle with real costs.
October 13, 2025 at 3:24 PM
The last few weeks and the ceasefire mark a major turnaround for US-Egypt ties, which have been markedly strained since Trump's return. With displacement for now having been explicitly set aside in the agreement and Cairo playing a major role in the talks, Sisi will feel huge relief and vindication.
October 13, 2025 at 3:19 PM
A ceasefire in Gaza and all that that entails in a first phase will be cause for immense relief. The 20-point plan is obviously flawed, but what comes after will have to be heavily negotiated in any case and will only be sustained if there is sustained pressure from U.S., Europe and regional states.
October 8, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Reposted by Michael Hanna
‘Two years on, Gaza has paid the price for global inaction.’

As we mark Hamas’s attacks against Israel on 7 October 2023, @crisisgroup.org’s CEO and President @comfortero.crisisgroup.org reflects on what has unfolded since - and the urgent choices now before us. 1/9 🧵

mailchi.mp/crisisgroup....
October 7, 2025 at 9:27 AM
Reposted by Michael Hanna
Pleased to speak with the BBC about the lethal and lawless US strikes in the Caribbean.

"There is no legal basis for these premeditated killings in the Caribbean."
October 5, 2025 at 12:23 PM
On this week’s episode, I joined Richard Atwood along with my colleagues @mairavz.bsky.social @maxji.bsky.social and Amjad Iraqi to discuss Trump’s Gaza ceasefire proposals and next steps.

www.crisisgroup.org/middle-east-...
What to Make of Trump’s Gaza Plan? | International Crisis Group
This week on Hold Your Fire!, Richard talks with Crisis Group experts Michael Hanna, Max Rodenbeck, Amjad Iraqi and Mairav Zonszein about Donald Trump’s proposed Gaza peace plan, who might benefit fro...
www.crisisgroup.org
October 5, 2025 at 3:59 PM
This will generate some immediate friction with Israel over when to halt operations. But Hamas agreed to enough, particularly on the front end, to get a go-ahead from Trump.
Anticipating a major diplomatic victory, Trump says "Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza." (Some of Israel's most deadly strikes on Hamas leadership have come when peace deals appeared imminent)
October 3, 2025 at 9:26 PM
A few impressions on US-Qatar security agreement (setting aside legal questions): it’s a precedent that other Gulf partners will seek to replicate; will be hugely frustrating to restraint wing of admin, particularly at DoD; and, lastly, it’s a reflection of Arab influence when properly marshaled.
October 1, 2025 at 1:50 PM
The conspicuous absence of Egypt's President Sisi from UNGA is telling with respect to the state of U.S.-Egypt relations. That absence is further magnified by today's meeting with Trump, which is to include key Arab and Muslim states.
September 23, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Truly welcome news that should have happened long ago.
HUGE HUGE NEWS FROM EGYPT!!

Egyptian President Sisi has issued a presidential pardon for activist and blogger Alaa Abdel Fattah.
September 22, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Reposted by Michael Hanna
Hear @bcfinucane.bsky.social from the International Crisis Group discuss the legality of the Trump administration's lethal strikes on boats allegedly carrying illegal drugs from Venezuela: www.wnyc.org/story/are-th...
Are the Lethal U.S. Strikes on Venezuelan Boats Legal? | The Brian Lehrer Show | WNYC
The Trump administration's recent lethal strikes on purported drug boats in Venezuela drew widespread condemnation from experts in international law.
www.wnyc.org
September 18, 2025 at 12:24 AM
Reposted by Michael Hanna
If you take what a 9-0 Court said in Vullo seriously, it seems clear to me that Kimmel has not just a plausible jawboning claim but a strong one on the basis of Carr's threats.

(Always read Genevieve Lakier 👇)
September 17, 2025 at 11:36 PM
The capitulation of elites and elite institutions to authoritarian intimidation fundamentally misunderstands or fails to appreciate the system of laws and norms that has provided them with a sustainable framework to flourish. The lack of fidelity to constitutional order and open society is pathetic.
September 17, 2025 at 11:29 PM
Reposted by Michael Hanna
the total lack of interest from business and media elites in defending the liberal norms that underpin civil society and like, modern capitalism for that matter has been truly shocking
we are in really unsettling place that we're facing a deeply unpopular regime that is making everything appreciably worse but the people with the power to stand up to them and takes steps to maintain basic political stability are capitulating without a fight
September 17, 2025 at 10:51 PM