The responsibility to protect and the lack of intervention in Syria between the protection of human rights and geopolitical strategies

Non-intervention in Syria highlights how the theory of the responsibility to protect (R2P) is flexible and depends on the strategic position and geopolitics of the state which violates human rights. Indeed the Security Council's several attempts to adopt a resolution have been blocked by the threat of Russia and China to veto. Accepting a Kofi Annan proposal, the only, but unsuccessful, resolution adopted was 2042/2012 which provided for sending a team of observers to verify the maintenance of the ceasefire. Subsequently, the United States proposed a resolution condemning Syria for the failure to authorise the sending of aid to the people but to no avail as this resolution also did not result in any action based on R2P.