If you have a grievance against a foreign government, it’s almost impossible to find redress in U.S. courts. But there’s no bar to foreign governments bringing cases as plaintiffs—and dictators have increasingly taken advantage of the U.S. legal system to pursue political ends and strengthen their rule. Foreign litigants often have legitimate claims against U.S. citizens or corporations, and U.S. courts have an interest in holding domestic parties accountable. Moreover, opening courts to foreign litigants promotes reciprocity. If foreign countries can sue in U.S. courts, they are more likely to give the U.S. government permission to sue in their own courts.

Source: Wall Street Journal September 02, 2020 22:52 UTC