Speaking on Monday, US Special Envoy James Jeffrey confirmed that the US is no longer demanding regime change in Syria, and is not actively trying to force President Bashar Assad from office.
That said, the American goal is “a regime that is fundamentally different,” even if it includes Assad. Jeffrey said Assad must accept such a compromise because he has “not yet won” the Syrian war.
The US has long demanded regime change as part of the end of the Syrian War, and even in staying in Syria militarily, officials had conditioned leaving on a successful transition, and insisted that Assad couldn’t be involved.
Now, there is resignation that Assad will stay, but Jeffrey says the US and its allies are prepared to withhold any aid to reconstruct Syria unless there is some assurance that the changes they are demanding are implemented.
US Accepts Assad Staying in Syria — But Won’t Give Aid
Says US wants 'fundamentally different' Syrian govt
Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.
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