Can States Simply Execute Foreign Rebels? #geopolitics #gaming #diplomacy #hermes #warhammer40k

Added: 2026-05-27

[00:00:00]Hermes, if a ship carries weapons and fighters for a rebellion, can a foreign government execute those aboard immediately? When Spain captured the Virginius, they claimed it was illegally supporting Cuban insurgents against Spanish rule.

[00:00:13]The United States argued the executions of crew and passengers violated international norms and due process, regardless of the ship's activities. So, Spain may have had grounds to seize the ship, but not to execute people summarily? Precisely. Enforcement authority does not erase procedural obligations. So, what was the eventual outcome? Spain ultimately paid indemnities and released survivors. The crisis demonstrated that even anti-insurgent operations remain constrained by international expectations of lawful treatment.