NATO Intervention in the Libyan Crisis and the Implementation of the Responsibility to Protect

Abstract

The events that occurred during the Arab Spring in early 2011 triggered the world community. Violent socio-political processes and changes in the ruling regimes of the Middle East and North African countries, particularly in Libya, led to the emergence of a political and moral dilemma for the Western World. In this context, this thesis examines the importance and influence of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) intervention and response regarding this issue, as well as the questions of the motives behind the military operation in Libya. To this end, the thesis specifically discusses the positions of some key NATO members, namely USA, France, UK, Germany, as well as Italy, regarding the intervention in Libya based on the principle of ‘Responsibility to Protect’ under the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) authorization of Resolution 1973.