Caught between two hammers — international law and technological dependence on the private sector — modern state sovereignty is in crisis. When a state attempts to act decisively against an adversary operating below the threshold of armed attack, it risks not only diplomatic sanctions and international condemnation but the loss of access to critical digital infrastructure owned by private corporations. In wartime, that loss is catastrophic, as we both experienced firsthand during Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine.The classical understanding of state sovereignty is being challenged. States now must actively ask for permission to use private capabilities for defensive purposes. Two The post The Illusion of Sovereignty: How International Law and Big Tech are Eroding the St