15. Pre-Emptive Action

In this advisory report the CAVV and the Advisory Council on International Affairs (AIV) analyse the terms ‘preventive’ and ‘pre-emptive’ military action. The report then outlines the nature of the new threats and the US security doctrine, which is based on the concept of military action. The CAVV and AIV subsequently assess whether such action is permissible under international law in that it satisfies the criteria for exceptions to the prohibition on the use of force set out in article 2, paragraph 4, of the UN Charter. Those exceptions are the use of force by or on behalf of the Security Council and the right of self-defence.