Added message in Syrian missile strikes, international relations scholar says

LAWRENCE — Last weekend's U.S. missile strikes in Syria likely had added meaning than simply retaliating against Bashar al-Assad for using chemical weapons against his own people, according to a University of Kansas researcher of Russian foreign policy.

Mariya Omelicheva, professor of political science, is available to discuss the developments of the strikes and relationship between the U.S. and Russia over recent events in Syria and elsewhere. Omelicheva's broad research interests focus on international relations, security policy, state security and human rights, and Russian foreign policy. She has authored several recent articles on Russian politics and foreign policy.

"To an ordinary observer, the U.S. missile strikes intended to send a signal to American and global audiences that the U.S. and its allies are committed to human rights and hope to deter the Syrian president from chemical attacks in the future," Omelicheva said. "In my view, the primary motivations for the U.S. strikes on Syria were twofold: To send a clear signal to Russians who allegedly used chemical agents on the former Russian double-agent and his daughter in Britain; and, to reverse the lifting of a long-standing taboo on the use of chemical weapons that can be potentially deployed against American troops."

She said U.S.-Russian tensions have reached a new high after the United States, United Kingdom and France carried out the strikes in Syria.

"However, I don't see them escalating further at this point. The U.S. president assured his domestic audience that the U.S. would not commit itself militarily to the region for the long term, and there is no intent to oust Assad," Omelicheva said. "Second, while the U.S. envoy to the U.N. spoke of new U.S. sanctions on Russia over the weekend, she had to backtrack on those comments as the White House seems to have no intent on sanctioning Russia again. I believe there is an understanding by all parties involved of how volatile and risky the situation currently is, and there is mutual interest to avoid conflict escalation."

To arrange an interview Omelicheva, contact George Diepenbrock at 785-864-8853 or gdiepenbrock@ku.edu.