Navigating the Roadblocks: The United States Struggled with Implementing R2P in the Syrian Conflict Under Donald Trump’s Administration
Abstract
The paper examines the doctrine of Responsibility to Protect as a conflict resolution option for the Syrian conflict and the challenges the United States faced, in implementing R2P to protect civilians. The concept of Responsibility to Protect was recognized by the UN General Council in 2005 as a legally binding obligation for member states to respond in conflict situations, where a state fails to protect its people. This study employed qualitative research techniques and thematic analysis to explore the United States' difficulties with implementing R2P in the Syrian conflict under Trump's administration. The paper found three major factors that had contributed to the failure of the United States in implementing R2P in the Syrian conflict under the Trump administration: prioritization of domestic issues, lack of strategic interest and unclear policies, and lack of international support due to previous intervention failures and opposition from Russia and China. The Syrian situation demonstrates that, while the Responsibility to Protect is an ambitious principle with widespread support, it may not always be an effective option for accomplishing its goals.
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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18415/ijmmu.v11i6.5796
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