US Foreign Policy toward Syria

This research began with the premise that U.S. policy toward the Syrian crisis can best be explained by two approaches; first, liberal hegemony and second, offshore balancing and restraint which promotes less use of military power and direct intervention. This involves allowing regional players to play America’s part and using proxy wars instead of direct military involvement by the US . This study covers three administrations. The Obama administration initially employed a strategy of restraint by not intervening directly. However, it later adopted some elements of liberal hegemony, thus shifting to a regime change policy. Conversely, President Trump used a strategy of restraint and offshore balancing. However, President Biden insisted that the Syrian people should have self-determination, but he did not intervene militarily. Additionally, he showed some flexibility in a process of normalization with the Syrian government, reflecting a mix of both liberal hegemony, offshore balancing and restraint strategies.