Who: The United States and Canada
Overview:
- Liberal countries composed of free market, liberal ideologies
- Relations between Syria and the United States are officially non-existent. Relations were severed in 2012 due to the Syrian Civil War.
- The U.S. government has imposed a series of economic sanctions on Syria, such as:
- Export sanctions.
- Ineligibility to receive most forms of U.S. aid
- Unable to purchase U.S. military equipment.
- Canada has cut ties with the Syrian government. However, last October, Canada’s Prime Minister elect Justin Trudeau informed President Obama Canada’s intention to remain a coalition partner, but will stop strikes.
Priorities:
- Promote democracy abroad.
- Suppress and defeat Assad’s regime.
- Protect the Syrian people from human right violations.
Support:
- The United Nations
- The European Union
- Syrian National Coalition
- Syrian People
- Other groups that support the Syrian rebels such as Turkey and the Gulf Arab States
Political Association:
- Liberal
- The United States is a permanent member of the Security Council
- Along with 26 other members, Canada and the United States are both members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
- Article 5 of the treaty requires member states to come to the aid of any member state subject to an armed attack.
- Article 4 merely invokes consultation among NATO members.
Criticisms:
- United States
- Commitments to take in refugees have been limited
- Has been hesitant to send troops after recent terrorists attacks
- Russia blames the US for interfering with Syrian sovereignty
- Canada
- Prime Minister has been criticized within its own country for plan to intake a high number of refugees.
- Has been criticized for only accepting whole families, lone women, or children.