protecting power
protecting power. Int’l law. A country responsible for protecting another country’s citizens and interests during a conflict or a suspension of diplomatic ties between the citizens’ country and a third party. • After a protecting power is accepted by both belligerents, it works to ensure the proper treatment of nationals who are in a belligerent’s territory, esp. prisoners of war. If the parties cannot agree on a protecting power, the International Committee of the Red Cross is often appointed to this position.
