Everything about Protecting Power totally explained
In
diplomatic usage, the term
protecting power refers to a relationship that may occur when two
countries don't have
diplomatic relations. Either country may request a third party (with which each country has diplomatic relations) to act as the protecting power, using its "good offices". In the territory of the host country, the protecting power will be recognized by that state as empowered to represent the other country and protect its interests. This may extend to caring for the diplomatic property of its protectee or acting as consular officers on behalf of its
citizens. The relationship and the legal status are recognized in
international conventions on diplomatic and
consular affairs, such as the
Vienna Conventions.
The practice is used when two countries have severed or suspended formal diplomatic ties for whatever reason (or never had them), including military or
territorial disputes, and yet wish to retain some form of communication or means of conducting necessary business. Effectively, it's a means of maintaining diplomatic relations when those ties have been formally severed. It isn't uncommon for the protected power to retain the use of its former diplomatic representation's buildings (although "attached" to or recognized as a section of the
embassy of the protecting power), and to post diplomats to the host country (again, as members of the protected power's "Interests Section" of the protecting power's
diplomatic mission). The host country may impose much more substantial restrictions on the protected power's ability to post personnel or in other areas, however, than would be customary under normal diplomatic relations.
There is no requirement that the protecting power be of any particular size or that it maintain formal
neutrality, but rather that the protecting power have diplomatic relations with both countries. The host country must grant or accept the assumption of protection. The specific responsibilities and arrangements are agreed between the protecting power and the protected power.
In practice, the "protected power" may be able to carry on quite substantial diplomatic and other relations with the host country, despite the lack of formal relations. For example,
Cuba and the
United States don't have formal diplomatic relations, but both maintain substantial diplomatic presences in each others' countries.
Switzerland is the protecting power for the United States in Cuba, and for Cuba in the United States (note that Cuba has separate diplomatic representation in New York at its Permanent Mission to the
United Nations). Formally, the U.S. representation in Cuba is known as the
United States Interests Section in Havana of the Swiss Embassy to Cuba; in practice, it's staffed primarily by U.S. diplomats and government personnel, and effectively occupies the physical buildings of the (former) U.S. Embassy. Other cases where a protecting power relationship exists include Israel in certain countries where it isn't recognized.
Switzerland as a protecting power
Switzerland has a long history serving as a protecting power in many conflicts. During the
Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871 it represented the interests of the
Kingdom of Bavaria and the
Grand Duchy of Baden in France. In the
First World War Spain took on more protecting power representational duties than Switzerland, and the Netherlands also took carriage of some mandates.
However in the
Second World War both Spain and the Netherlands were effectively unable to serve as a protecting power, and instead Switzerland took on the role of representing a number of belligerent states. At one point Switzerland represented the interests of 35 states in their enemies' capitals, including the Allies in Axis capitals and the Axis in Allied capitals simultaneously, totalling around 200 mandates. The Swiss were able to cover various issues between the warring states, including the repatriation of
prisoners of war, the welfare of
Rudolf Hess after his arrival in Scotland and notification of Japan's acceptance of
unconditional surrender (External Link
)
Since the Second World War Switzerland has been given over 67 protecting power mandates during several conflicts, including the
Congo Crisis, the
Suez Crisis, the
Falklands War and the
Kosovo conflict. In
Havana Switzerland represented the interests of eleven Latin and North American states after the Cuban revolution led these states to withdraw diplomatic relations (since restored in most cases), and Switzerland was instrumental in resolving disputes involving hijackings and refugees between Cuba and the United States. Following the outbreak of the
Yom Kippur War in 1973, Switzerland took on additional mandates, and had at one time 25 assignments, the greatest number since 1945. Switzerland provided protecting power representation between India and Pakistan until the two states formalised diplomatic relations in 1976, and supervised the movement of over 320,000 refugees to and from the countries.
(External Link)
Switzerland now only has four protecting power mandates - to represent the governments of
Cuba and the
United States in each other's capitals, to represent the United States in
Iran and to represent Iran in
Egypt.
Other protecting power relationships
- Sweden is the protecting power for the United States, Australia and other Western countries in North Korea for consular matters, "with assistance from Germany as needed." Previously Sweden was the protecting power for Britain in Iran following the Islamic revolution (and briefly after the Salman Rushdie affair, shortly after the two states had restored relations). In the Second World War Sweden was entrusted with representing 114 mandates for 28 countries.
- Pakistan is the protecting power for Iran in the United States.
- during the period of Indonesian occupation of East Timor (1975-1999), the relations between Portugal and Indonesia were severed, and the Netherlands were the protecting power for Portugal in Indonesia while Thailand was the protecting power for Indonesia in Portugal
- Belgium was the protecting power for the United States in Libya until 2006 when diplomatic relations were restored.
- Canada was for a time the protecting power for Israel in Cuba.
- Italy was the protecting power for Libya in the United Kingdom following the shooting of Yvonne Fletcher in 1984.
- Jordan was the protecting power for Iraq in the United Kingdom after the first Gulf War.
- Poland was the protecting power for the United States in Iraq after the first Gulf War.
Certain countries may have agreements to provide limited consular services to the citizens of other countries. This doesn't necessarily constitute a protecting power relationship, as the host country may not have formally agreed, and there may in fact be diplomatic relations between the host country and the third country, but no physical representation. Without the agreement of the host country,
consular officials in this role may not be recognized as representing the interests of another, and be limited to a "good offices" role.
The United States provides consular services to citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau.
Certain Commonwealth countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United Kingdom, have agreements in certain countries to provide consular services for citizens of the other countries where they don't have physical representation. Canada provides consular assistance to Australian citizens to several states in Latin America and Africa; while Australian diplomatic missions reciprocate in several Asia-Pacific states.
Citizens of European Union countries may request consular services at the missions of other EU countries when their home country doesn't have a mission locally.
Other meanings
Protecting power has a distinct and separate meaning under the Geneva Conventions for protection of civilians in times of war.
Historically a protecting power held a permanent protectorate over a weaker stateFurther Information
Get more info on 'Protecting Power'.
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