The United States
The US has indicated its strong belief that the Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad was responsible for the chemical weapon attack in Ghouta last week. Secretary of State John Kerry called the attack a “moral obscenity” and added, “There is a reason why President Obama has made clear to the Assad regime that this international norm cannot be violated without consequences.” Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel indicated that the US military is “ready to go” and prepared to strike Syria should President Obama order it. President Obama spoke to PBS News on Wednesday evening to say that he had not yet made a decision on whether to attack Syria, but reiterated his belief that the Assad regime was responsible and that there needed to be “consequences.” Speaker of the House John Boehner meanwhile sent a letter to President Obama asking that the President justify any potential military action.
On Sunday, President Obama indicated that he would seek Congressional authorisation for a strike on Syria. Congress will take up the resolution authorising force when it reconvenes on September 9. Congressional leadership from both parties have indicated that they will support the bill.
UNSC Member: Yes, Permanent
Relevant military assets: Five Arleigh Burke-class destroyers armed with Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles are deployed in the eastern Mediterranean. The USS Nimitz aircraft carrier is moving through the Red Sea, putting its strike aircraft and missiles from its five escort ships closer to Syrian targets. American strategic bombers could strike Syria from their bases in the continental US. The Aviationist reported that two U-2 spy planes have been moved closer to Syria, although their ultimate destination is still unknown.
The United Kingdom
The UK will present a resolution to the UNSC calling for “necessary measures to protect civilians” – the same language used in the UNSC resolution on Libya in 2011. Foreign Minister William Hague wrote an op-ed in the Telegraph saying, “This is a moment of grave danger for the people of Syria, a moment of truth for democratic nations to live up to their values, and a weighty test of the international community. The way ahead will not be without risks, but the risks of doing nothing are greater.” In Thursday’s vote in the House of Commons, MPs ruled out British military action against Syria in an opposition majority of 272 votes to 285.
UNSC Member: Yes, Permanent
Relevant military assets: A UK naval task group is currently stationed in the eastern Mediterranean, consisting of two frigates, an amphibious assault ship and a helicopter carrier, although none of these ships has a land-attack capability. A nuclear attack submarine armed with Tomahawk missiles is rumoured to be in the region. The UK has an airbase at Akrotiri, Cyprus, which could serve as a base for strike and support aircraft. On Thursday, the Ministry of Defence announced that six RAF Typhoon multirole fighters would be deployed to Akrotiri, but only in an “air-to-air,” “defensive” role.
France
France has also expressed willingness to launch retaliatory strikes against Syria. President Francois Hollande said: “The Damascus chemical massacre cannot remain unanswered. France is ready to punish those who took the heinous decision to gas innocents.” He also vowed to increase military aid to the Syrian opposition. However, a French government spokeswoman also indicated that the military plan was “difficult to develop” and needed to be balanced with broader strategic objectives. On Friday, President Hollande announced that France wanted “firm and proportionate action against the Damasacus regime” and that a strike could come as soon as Wednesday. According to Hollande, the vote by the UK Parliament “would not affect France’s will to act”.
UNSC Member: Yes, Permanent
Relevant military assets: France’s sole aircraft carrier, the Charles de Gaulle, is based in Toulon and could be deployed to the eastern Mediterranean with strike aircraft and escort ships. According to Air Cosmos, two French navy Atlantique II aircraft have been moved to Cyprus, joining two French E-3D radar early warning planes. France has bases in Djibouti and the UAE which could serve as bases for strike and support aircraft. France does not have any ship-based land attack missiles, so any strike by French forces would have to come from the air.
Russia
As one of Syria’s staunchest allies and supporters, Russia opposes intervention and has called for restraint and further UN investigation of the chemical attacks. Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov warned that intervention would be cause “catastrophic consequences.” Russia has vetoed previous UNSC resolutions on Syria and is seen as highly unlikely to permit passage of a use of force resolution as it did with Libya in 2011. Russian envoys have been meeting with representatives of the US, UK and France to discuss the situation, but little progress has been reported.
UNSC Member: Yes, Permanent
Relevant military assets: Russia operates a naval station in Tartus, Syria, although no Russian warships appear to be stationed there at the moment. Syria’s military largely operates Soviet and Russian-designed equipment, and Russian technicians and trainers have been present in and around military facilities in Syria. The Russian Navy announced on August 29 that it was deploying a cruiser and a destroyer to the eastern Mediterranean, although it said the deployment was not related to Syria. On Sunday, a Russian spy ship was reported to have left Sevastopol for the eastern Mediterranean “to gather current information in the area of the escalating conflict”.
China
China has called for restraint and has joined Russia in opposing aggressive UN action on Syria while calling for more time for the UN investigation to proceed. Wang Yi, China’s Foreign Minister, issued a statement calling on all parties to exercise restraint and reiterating its belief that only a political solution is viable.
UNSC Member: Yes, Permanent
Relevant military assets: None
Australia
Foreign Minister Bob Carr has stated: “Our preference, everyone’s preference, would be for action, a response, under United Nations auspices. But if that’s not possible, the sheer horror of a government using chemical weapons against its people, using chemical weapons in any circumstances, mandates a response.”
UNSC Member: Non-Permanent, will become President of UNSC on Sunday
Relevant military assets: None
Argentina
No public comment.
UNSC Member: Non-Permanent, current President of UNSC (until Sunday)
Azerbaijan
No public comment.
UNSC Member: Non-Permanent
Relevant military assets: None
Guatemala
No public comment.
UNSC Member: Non-Permanent
Relevant military assets: None
Luxembourg
No public comment.
UNSC Member: Non-Permanent
Relevant military assets: None
Morocco
No public comment.
UNSC Member: Non-Permanent
Relevant military assets: None
Pakistan
Pakistan’s interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan opposes any attacks, as this would go against Syria’s “sovereignty”.
UNSC Member: Non-Permanent
Relevant military assets: None
Republic of Korea
No public comment.
UNSC Member: Non-Permanent
Relevant military assets: None
Rwanda
No public comment.
UNSC Member: Non-Permanent
Relevant military assets: None
Togo
No public comment.
UNSC Member: Non-Permanent
Relevant military assets: None
Germany
German government spokesman Steffen Seibert said that the use of chemical weapons “cannot be without consequence.” German foreign minister Guido Westerwelle added that: “…Germany will be among those [countries], that consider it right for there to be consequences” should the chemical attack be confirmed. On Friday, Westerwelle ruled out German participation in a military strike against Syria.
UNSC Member: No
Relevant military assets: None in region. German strike aircrafts could operate from regional NATO bases in the event of their use in a strike.
Turkey
Turkey’s involvement in the conflict is deeper than any other NATO state, a function of its shared border with Syria. Syria and Turkey have exchanged fire over the border on a number of occasions, and Turkey hosts various support activities for the rebels. Turkey has been outspoken in its criticism of the Syrian government. Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davtoğlu told the country’s Milliyet newspaper that Turkey was prepared to join a coalition for action on Syria even in the absence of UN authorisation, according to the BBC, and is reported to have “rotated its ground-to-ground missiles toward Syria”.
UNSC Member: No
Relevant military assets: Large, modern air force based locally. Major air bases shared with NATO allies could be used to stage and support a strike.
Greece
Greece is reportedly considering allowing NATO to use its air bases, but is unlikely to join any action with its own forces.
UNSC Member: No
Relevant military assets: Air bases could be used by NATO aircraft to stage or support a strike.
Israel
Israel has attacked targets – reputedly weapons shipments bound for Lebanon – in Syria on several occasions during the current conflict, and has indicated that it would respond violently to any attack on its soil.
UNSC Member: No
Relevant military assets: Significant air, missile and artillery assets within range of Syria. Land forces facing Syrian territory.
Jordan
Jordan has refused to be the “launch pad” for a strike on Syria, despite a significant presence of American forces. On request of the government Jordan earlier this summer, the US military left an unknown number of US F-16 fighter jets in the country.
UNSC Member: No
Relevant military assets: None
Did you find this story interesting? Please support AOAV's work and donate.
Donate