G-7 right to hold back on sanctions against Russia and Syria

London

COMMON sense prevailed last Tuesday when G-7 foreign ministers rejected the US and UK-proposed sanctions on Russia and Syria following the April 4 chemical attack on Khan Sheikhoun. Sanctions by themselves would not be enough to convince Vladimir Putin to abandon his strategic relationship with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. By provoking a US response, Mr Assad has made it harder for Mr Putin to renounce him.

The US should learn the lessons of sanctions history. Sanctions are rarely effective and have been known to lead to war.