USA and Russia in Syria and Ukraine: The Irony of Geo-Political Interventions

Year 2015, Volume: 14 Issue: 1, 67 - 75, 26.12.2015

Blessing Simura

Abstract

                        The battle between the USA and Russia
that had been snuffed by the demise of the Soviet Union has been rekindled. The
USA and Russia have regional doctrines that demarcate areas to which outside
powers cannot encroach. However, the Middle East has remained a contested
region for the two powers. USA has also sought to encroach into the backyard of
Russia in order to contain the resurgence of the Eastern power. Both states
have sought to protect their regions of influence and in the era beginning with
the Arab spring, the doctrine of humanitarian intervention has been used to
justify geo-political interventions. This article argues that the current
tussle between the USA and Russia on Syria and Ukraine can be understood more
from geopolitical struggles than from the humanitarian intervention argument

Keywords

Geo-political intervention, USA, Russia, Ukraine, Syria

References

• Ben Smith and Daniel Harari, “Ukraine, Crimea and Russia,” House of Commons Library, Research Paper 14/16, 17 March 2014, p. 1
• Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation’s address to the State Duma Deputies, Federation Council Members, Heads of Russian regions and Civil society Representatives in the Kremlin on the Annexation of Crimea, 18 March 2014, accessed 24 June 2014, www.eng.kremlin.ru/news/6889
• This may be a contested term. Here, it is used in reference to those who rise in armed resistance against an established ruler and/or government.
• Angela Joya, “Syria and the Arab Spring: The Evolution of the Conflict and the Role of the Domestic and External Factors,” Ortadogu Etutleri, Vol 4, No. 1, July 2012, p. 27, 31-32
• Fredric C. Hof and Alex Simon, “Sectarian Violence in Syria’s Civil War: Causes, Consequences and Recommendations for Mitigation,” paper commissioned by the Center for the Prevention of Genocide, United States Holocaust Museum, accessed 23 April 2013, www.ushmm.org/genocide/pdf/syria-report.pdf, p 1
• Stefan Talmon, “Recognition of Opposition Groups as the Legitimate Representative of a People,” Chinese Journal of International Law, 31 May 2013, par. 1-5, see also Christopher M. Blanchard, “Libya: Transition and US Policy,” Congressional Research Service (CRS) Report for Congress, 25 October 2014, www.crs.gov, p. 17
• Angela Joya, “Syria and the Arab Spring: The Evolution of the Conflict and the Role of the Domestic and External Factors,” p. 35
• Fredric C. Hof and Alex Simon, “Sectarian Violence in Syria’s Civil War: Causes, Consequences and Recommendations for Mitigation,” p. ii & 2
• Angela Joya, “Syria and the Arab Spring: The Evolution of the Conflict and the Role of the Domestic and External Factors,” p. 35; see also, Seymour M. Hersh, “Annals of National Security: The Redirection,” The New Yorker, 5 March 2007, accessed 25 June 2014, www.m.newyorker.com/reporting/2007/03/05/070305fa_fact_hersh?currentPage=all
• Ben Smith and Daniel Harari, “Ukraine, Crimea and Russia,” p. 1