The Impact of the Trump Doctrine on Syria

Salih Omar Issa; Chenar Babaker Mohammed

doi:10.25212/lfu.qzj.5.3.33

Authors

Salih Omar Issa Department of Diplomacy and International Relations, Collage of Political Sciences, Salahadin University, Erbil- Iraq
Chenar Babaker Mohammed PhD student International relations, College of Law and International relations, Soran University, Erbil- Iraq

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25212/lfu.qzj.5.3.33%20

Keywords:

Trump Doctrine, Syrian Crisis, Protecting Israel, Curbing Iranian role

Abstract

United States foreign policy has sought to maintain primacy on the global stage, but every U.S. president has maintained U.S. foreign policy in their own context. Counter to previous administrations, President Donald Trump has focused U.S. foreign policy through the lens of transactional realism concentrating on counterterrorism and challenges to U.S. interests and allies in the Middle East. Trump has criticized his predecessors for their policies of deep engagement leading to a deterioration of U.S. ‘Greatness,’ wasted tax dollars, and wasted American lives. Rooted in his background as an entrepreneur, President Trump has
centered foreign policy around “America First.” However, U.S. interests in Syria are complicated by a multitude of actors involved in the Syrian conflict. Consequently, President Trump utilizes smart power with limited engagement in Syria based on cooperation
with regional and international actors, particularly with regards to the ‘War on Terror.’ This strategy focuses on working with Russia, even if concessions are necessary, to curb Iran’s role in the region while protecting longtime ally, Israel. Furthermore, the United States exerts

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Abbas, M. (2020) "Palestinians angrily reject Trump Mideast peace plan", 28Jan, [Online], Available: https://apnews.com/0dcb0179faf41e1870f35838058f4d18.

Al-Istrabadi, F. (2018) '" Regional constraints on the U.S. confrontation of ISIS"', in Feisal alIstrabadi, S.G. (ed.) "The future of ISIS: Regional and International implications" , Brookings Institution press.

Allison, R. (2013) '" Russia and Syria: explaining alignment with a regime in crisis"', International Affairs (Royal Institute of International Affairs 1944-), vol. 89, no. 4, Jul.

Anderson, S.R. (2020) "The Law and Consequences of the Recent Airstrikes in Iraq", 1Jan, [Online], Available: https://www.lawfareblog.com/law-and-consequences-recent-airstrikesiraq.

Barkey, H. (2019) "The Kurdish Awakening: unity, betraya, and the future of the Middle East", Apr, [Online], Available: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/turkey/2019-02-

/kurdishawakening?utm_campaign=reg_conf_email&utm_medium=newsletters&utm_source=fa_registration.

Blanchard, C.M. (2019) '"Iraq and U.S. Policy "', Congressional Research service, no. 18, Oct, Available: IF10404.

bloomberg.com (2019) "Putin, Erdogan Strike Deal on Joint Patrols of Syria Border", 22Oct, [Online], Available: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-10-22/putin-smeeting-with-erdogan-may-decide-fate-of-syria-s-kurds.

Bolton, J. (2020) "The room where it happened", New York: Simon & Shuster.

Branett, M.N. (2018) ' "What is international relations teory good for? ', in "Chaos in the liberal order: The Trump presidency and international relations polictic, in the twenty- first century" , Columbia University press.

Buckley, C.A. (2012) '"Learning from Libya, Acting in Syria"', Journal of Strategic Security, vol. 5, no. 20.

CNBC (2019) "Three charts that show why Trump thinks NATO is a bad deal", 3Dec, [Online], Available: https://www.cnbc.com/2019/12/03/three-charts-that-show-why-trump-thinksnato-is-a-bad-deal.html.

CNBC (2019) "Turkey launches military operation against Kurds in northern Syria", 9Oct,

[Online], Available: https://www.cnbc.com/2019/10/09/turkish-president-erdoganconfirms-military-operation-in-northern-syria-has-begun.html [9 Oct 2019].

Colucci, L. (2012) "Tthe natinal security doctrines of the American presidency: how they shape our present and future" , PRAEGER of ABC-CLIO,LLC. CPG (2019) '"Eurasia’s Geopolitical Outlook for 2019:A review-based assessment forEurope and Asia"', German-southest Asian Center of Excellency fo publich policis and Good govenance CPG, Jul.

Crosston, M.D. (2014) '"Cold War and Ayatollah Residues: Syria as a Chessboard for Russia, Iran, and the United"', Strategic Studies Quarterly, vol. 8, no. 4, pp. 94-111.

CRS (2019) '"Armed Conflict in Syria:Overview and U.S. Response "', Congressional Research Service, Mar, Available: RL33487.

Davis, R. (2015) '" Syria's refugee crisis"', Great Decisions, pp. 65-76.

Duclos, M. (2019) "Assad's Thinking: How Did Syria Get Here, and Where Does the Regime Want to Go Now?", 21Jun, [Online], Available: https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policyanalysis/view/assads-thinking-how-did-syria-get-here-and-where-does-the-regime-want-togo.

Esper, M. (2020) "President Trump saying the US had intelligence that Iran was planning to attack four US embassies.", 12Jan, [Online], Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkO4CVOg4qk.

Frantzman, S.J. (2019) "Pence in Kurdistan region and US base in Iraq for surprise visit", 23Nov, [Online], Available: https://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Mike-Pence-visits-US-troops-inIraq-to-meet-prime-minister608769?fbclid=IwAR19xP4mR2ILwEi8vas5JQGIZRdE8L_UNyjcJbzj_f_FJdBJKDvFQbgrHh0. Global Policy Forum (2006) "Iraq's Government", [Online], Available: https://www.globalpolicy.org/political-issues-in-iraq/iraqs-government-.html [10 Apr 2019].

globalsecurity (2019) "Russian Naval Base at Tartus / Tartous", [Online], Available: https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/syria/tartous.htm [8 Sep 2019].

Graham, T. (2019) "Let Russia Be Russia:The Case for a More Pragmatic Approach to Moscow", Nov/Dec, [Online], Available: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/russia-fsu/2019-10- 15/let-russia-berussia?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=tw_daily_soc&utm_source=twitter_posts.

Grieco, K.A. (2018) '"The 2018 National Defense Strategy; continuity and competition" ', Strategic studies Quarterly, vol. 12, no. 2, pp. 3-8.

HRW (2019) "Syria:events of 2018", [Online], Available: https://www.hrw.org/worldreport/2019/country-chapters/syria#909488 [20 Aug 2019].

IDMC (2018) Internal Displacement moniter centre, 1-12, [Online], Available: http://www.internal-displacement.org/countries/syria [20 Aug 2019].

Jeffrey Martini et al, (2013) '"Syria as an Arena of Strategic Competition"', in Jeffrey Martini, E.Y.a.W.Y. "Syria as an Arena of Strategic Competition", RAND Corporation.

Jones, S.G. (2019) '" Dangerous Liaisons:Russian Cooperation with Iranian in Syria"', CISIS BRIEFS, Jul.

Karademir, B.S. (2019) '"A Dance of Entanglement"', Uluslararası İlişkiler / International Relations, vol. 16, no. 62.

KARADEMİR, B.S. (2019) '"A Dance of Entanglement"', Uluslararası İlişkiler / International Relations, vol. 16, no. 62.

KNC "about KNC", [Online], Available: http://knc-geneva.org/?page_id=49&lang=en [7 Sep 2019].

Kuimova, A. (2019) '"RUSSIA’S ARMS EXPORTS TO THE MENAREGION: TRENDS AND DRIVERS"', euromesco, policy Brief, no. 95, Apr.

Larres, K. (2017) "Donald Trump and America’s Grand Strategy: : U.S. foreign toward Europe,

Russia and China", may, [Online], Available: https://archive.transatlanticrelations.org/wpcontent/uploads/2017/05/Larres-Donald-Trump-and-America%E2%80%99s-Grand-StrategyU.S.-foreign-policy-toward-Europe-Russia-and-China-Global-Policy-May-2017.pdf.

Malashenko, A. (2013) '"Russia and the Arab Spring"', Carinegie Moscow Center, Oct.

Martin, K.W. (2018) '"Syria and Iraq ISIS and other actors in historical context" ', in Feisal alIstrabad, S.G. "The future of ISIS: Regional and international implication" , Brookings Institution press.

Michael, J.H. (2011) '" Dysfunctinal doctrines? Eisenhower, Carter and U.S. military Intervention in the Middle East"', Political Science Quarterly, vol. 126, no. 3, pp. 465-495.

NDAA FY2020 (2019) "NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020 ", Dec, [Online], Available: https://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20191209/CRPT116hrpt333.pdf.

Nye, J.J. (2019) '"The rise and fall of American hegemony from Wilson to Trump"', international affairs.

Ortagus, M. (2019) "On the Syrian Constitutional Committee in Geneva", 30Nov, [Online], Available: https://www.state.gov/on-the-syrian-constitutional-committee-in-geneva/. O'Toole, M. (2016) Foreign policy, 22Mar, [Online], Available:

https://foreignpolicy.com/2016/03/22/aipac-condemns-donald-trump-speech-we-takegreat-offense/.

Pompeo, M. (2019a) @SecPompeo, 7Jan, [Online], Available: https://twitter.com/SecPompeo/status/1082419194895962112.

Pompeo, M. (2019b) "Secretary Pompeo News Conference", 18Nov, [Online], Available: https://www.c-span.org/video/?466577-1/secretary-state-pompeo-announces-policychange-israeli-settlements.

Pompeo, M. (2019c) "American troops are coming home from Syria, but this isn’t a change of mission. We remain committed to the complete dismantling of the ISIS threat and the ongoing fight against radical Islamist terror. We are looking to our partners to do more going fo ", 10Jan, [Online], Available: https://twitter.com/SecPompeo/status/1083408748159283201.

Pompeo, M. (2019c) "U.S. Intent To Withdraw from the INF Treaty February 2, 2019", 2Feb, [Online], Available: https://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2019/02/288722.htm.

Pompeo, M.R. (2019d) "Passage of the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019", 20Dec, [Online], Available: https://sy.usembassy.gov/passage-of-the-caesar-syria-civilianprotection-act-of-2019/.

Ratney, M. (2018) '" Post conflict stabilization: what can we learn from Syria?"', PRISM, vol. 7, no. 4.

Reality check team (2019) "Syria war: Who benefits from its oil production?", 21Nov, [Online], Available: https://www.bbc.com/news/50464561.

RÜMA, İ. (2019) '"Russian and Turkish Foreign Policy Activism in the Syrian Theater"', Uluslararası İlişkiler / International Relations, vol. 16, no. 62.

Russell, M. (2018) "Russia in the Middle East:From sidelines to centre stage", Nov, [Online], Available:

https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2018/630293/EPRS_BRI(2018)6302 93_EN.pdf [25 Aug 2019].

Sach, J.D. (2018) '"The Trump 's New National Security Strategy"', in "A new Foreign policy': Beyond American Exceptionalism", Columbia University Press. Schelling, T.C. (2008) "Arms and influence", NEW HAVEN AND LONDON and YALE UNIVERSITY PRESS.

Schøtt, A.S. (2017) '"From the Forgotten People to World-Stage Actors:THE KURDS OF SYRIA"', Danish Defence, Jun.

Seth G. Jone at el (2019) '"Iran’s Threat to Saudi Critical Infrastructure: The Implications of U.S.-Iranian Escalation"', CSIS Briefs, Aug, p. 5.

Sinkkonen, V. (2018) '"CONTEXTUALIZING THE "TRUMP DOCTRINE"', FIIA Analysis, Nov. Stein, A. (2016) '"Islamic State Net work in Turkey;Recruitment for the Caliphate"', Atlantic Council.

Stocker, J.R. (2018) '" Historical Legacies of US policy in the Middle East"', in ROBERT JERVIS, F.J.G.J.R.D.N.L.G.F. "Chaos in the liberal order: The Trump Presidency and international politics in the twenty-first century", Columbia University Press.

Taylor, A. (2019) "No president has recognized Israel’s control of the Golan Heights. Trump changed that with a tweet.", 22Mar, [Online], Available: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2019/03/22/no-president-has-recognized-israelscontrol-golan-heights-trump-changed-that-with-tweet/.

Terrill, W.A. (2015) '"Iran's strategy for saving Asad"', Middle East Journal, vol. 69, no. 2.

Trump, D. (2015) "Crippled America: how to make America great again" , Thereshhold Edition edition, Imprint of Simon & Schuster.Inc.

Trump, D.J. (2016a) "Transcript: Donald Trump Expounds on His Foreign Policy Views", 26Mar, [Online], Available: https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/27/us/politics/donald-trumptranscript.html [4 Dec 2019].

Trump, D.J. (2016b) "Donald Trump Has a Coherent, Realist Foreign Policy", 12Apr, [Online], Available: https://foreignpolicy.com/2016/04/12/donald-trump-has-a-coherent-realistforeign-policy/ [4 Dec 2019].

Trump, D.J. (2017) "Statement by President Trump on the Paris Climate Accord", 1Jun, [Online], Available: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/statementpresident-trump-paris-climate-accord/ [26 Jan 2020].

Trump, D.J. (2018a) "Remarks by President Trump in Briefing at Al Asad Air Base | Al Anbar Province, Iraq", 26Dec, [Online], Available: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefingsstatements/remarks-president-trump-briefing-al-asad-air-base-al-anbar-province-iraq/ [20

Nov 2019].

Trump, D. (2018b) "After historic victories against ISIS, it’s time to bring our great young people home! ", 19Dec, [Online], Available:

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1075528854402256896.

Trump, D. (2018c) "Remarks by President Trump on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action", 8May, [Online], Available: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/remarkspresident-trump-joint-comprehensive-plan-action/.

Trump, D. (2019a) "Statement from the President on the Designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a Foreign Terrorist Organization", 8Apr, [Online], Available: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/statement-president-designationislamic-revolutionary-guard-corps-foreign-terrorist-organization/.

Trump, D.J. (2019b) "Remarks by President Trump on the Death of ISIS Leader Abu Bakr alBaghdadi", 27Oct, [Online], Available: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefingsstatements/remarks-president-trump-death-isis-leader-abu-bakr-al-baghdadi/.

Trump, D.J. (2019c) "After defeating 100% of the ISIS Caliphate.", 14Oct, [Online], Available: https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1183822488192671745.

Trump, D.J. (2019d) "President Trump Delivers Remarks to Troops", 28Nov, [Online], Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnXrdn3-l-E.

Trump, D.J. (2020a) "Remarks by President Trump on Iran", 8Jan, [Online], Available: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-iran/.

Trump, D.J. (2020b) "Remarks by President Trump on the Killing of Qasem Soleimani", 3Jan, [Online], Available: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-presidenttrump-killing-qasem-soleimani/.

Trump, D.J. (2020c) "Remarks by President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu of the State of Israel in Joint Statements", 28Jan, [Online], Available:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-primeminister-netanyahu-state-israel-joint-statements/.

U.S. Department of Defense (2020) "Statement by the Department of Defense", 2Jan, [Online], Available:

https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Releases/Release/Article/2049534/statement-by-thedepartment-of-defense/.

U.S.Embassy in Syria (2019) "Joint Statement by the Foreign Ministers of the Small Group on Syria", 26Sep, [Online], Available: https://sy.usembassy.gov/joint-statement-by-the-foreignministers-of-the-small-group-on-syria/. UNSC (2013) "United Nations Securiy Council 2118", 27Sep, [Online], Available: https://www.securitycouncilreport.org/atf/cf/%7B65BFCF9B-6D27-4E9C-8CD3-

CF6E4FF96FF9%7D/s_res_2118.pdf [1 Sep 2019].

VOA (2018) "AP Explains Turkey's 'Operation Olive Branch' in Afrin, Syria", 22Jan, [Online], Available: https://www.voanews.com/world-news/middle-east-dont-use/ap-explainsturkeys-operation-olive-branch-afrin-syria.

Ward, A. (2019) Lindsey Graham is leading a Senate bill to punish Turkey with crushing sanctions", 10Oct, [Online], Available: https://www.vox.com/2019/10/10/20907934/turkeysyria-kurds-trump-sanctions-graham.

Woodward, B. (2018) "Fear: Trump in the white house", Simon & Schuster A CBC COMPANY. Yaphe, J.S. (2014) '"Next Steps in Syria"', PRISM, vol. 4.