A White House National Security Council official told The National that the Biden administration was “encouraged” by a meeting between Syrian and other Arab foreign ministers that took place in Amman on Monday.
The comments mark a significant shift in rhetoric from the US, which has previously strongly discouraged regional engagement with the Syrian government of President Bashar al-Assad.
The foreign ministers of Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Egypt issued a joint statement after the meeting that said it was the beginning of a process “aimed at reaching a solution to the crisis in Syria, consistent with Security Council Resolution 2254, and addressing all the consequences of the humanitarian, political and security crisis.”
A National Security Council representative told The National that the administration was “encouraged to see the joint communique mention many priorities that we and our partners share.” The official added the US hopes “that the Syrian regime will follow through on its commitments, in good faith and in accordance with international norms.”
The official was pleased that the statement mentioned UN Security Council Resolution 2254, which was passed in 2015 and calls for a solution to the crisis in Syria “through an inclusive and Syrian-led political process.”
On Tuesday, State Department spokesman Vedant Patel was asked about the meeting in Amman. “We have seen those reports and understand that a communique was issued by the participants talking about their efforts to reach a solution relating to the crisis in Syria that is consistent with UN Security Council Resolution 2254. And we continue to believe that a political solution as outlined in 2254 remains the only viable option to the conflict,” he said.
The State Department has previously issued strong statements against regional countries normalizing or engaging with Damascus. In February, the State Department said it was opposed to countries upgrading ties with Assad even if it was part of an effort to help Syria with earthquake relief.
US partners in the Middle East have ignored the warnings against normalizing with Assad. Saudi Arabia is currently leading an effort to bring Damascus back into the fold and restore Syria’s Arab League membership. The Wall Street Journal reported in March that a potential normalization deal between Damascus and its neighbors would involve Arab countries lobbying the US to lift sanctions on Syria, which are designed to prevent the country’s reconstruction.
On top of keeping Syria under sanctions, the US also maintains an occupation force of about 900 troops in eastern Syria and backs the Kurdish-led SDF in the region. The joint statement released by the Arab foreign ministers on Monday expressed support for Syria regaining control of its territory, which would include US-occupied areas, a fact that wasn’t mentioned by Patel or the National Security Council official.
The ministers agreed to work to “support Syria and its institutions in any legitimate efforts to extend its control over its lands and impose the rule of law, and end the presence of armed and terrorist groups on Syrian lands, and stop foreign interference in Syrian internal affairs.”
Has-been playing catchup … all they can do at this point.
I’m interested to learn of any conditions attached to this.
Why is the onus on Syria when it’s the US, Israel and the Saudies who are responsible for having created this mess in the first place and should in essence demand that the US simply leaves and pay damages to Syria.
The conditions are roughly as follows.
It’s easy to see, after 40 yrs of Washington’s war on Islam, that the League members would like to return to the statusquo ante, … e.g., refugees to Jordan have bid the cost of rent to where Jordanians can’t afford to live there. But they’re asking Assad to abandon Iran, his lone ally along with Russia against the 17 yr ravages of Anglo-Zionist aggression, in favor of those who supported it. Their peace and normalization with Iran has to be formalized first. ??
I very much doubt that Syria will abandon it’s allies – So far Syria has held out rather well.
Just like Chine and Russia will not abandon each other neither will Syria abandon Iran for the simple reason that if one of them falls the other will be left on their own.
To me it’s easy to see that there are numerous other factors in play which have nothing to do with stealing Syrian’s resources since the US could gave simply bought it.
So what are those factors?
A Neo-Ziocon friendly coup in Syria is still on the cards as well the carving up of it’s territory while simultaneously attempting to lure Iran into a conflict.
Then there are pipelines.
Hope you’re right re Iran and Syria, tho I’m not as sure as you. And hope you’re wrong re Neocon project against Iran, tho I’m afraid you’re right.
You should be a diplomat…!
Your very kind, perhaps I could not function for a government that’s proven to be corrupted and where the steps of government double as steppingstones towards future corporate appointments.
Free Assange !!!
The US totalitarian military empire is a paper dollar tiger pirate. It needs to keep stealing real assets of Syrian wheat and oil as long as possible.
Another “A White House National Security Council representative told…” That’s not that crazy. What’s totally crazy was the outrage from the so called “Syrians” who insist on starving their own Syrian brothers and sisters. Especially that “the representative’s” words were meaningless and don’t help any of the Syrians at all. I guess this is what we always do. We also find Cubans and Iranians who want to starve their own people forever. But don’t worry. I’m not qualified to diagnose crazy people–only traitors. (Sarcasm alert)
“Encouraged”
That’s an acknowledgement that the US is not driving but is along for the ride.
The official added the US hopes “that the Syrian regime will follow through on its commitments, in good faith and in accordance with international norms.”
Again, with the shit said with a straight face. Never ceases to amaze.
International norms. So I can assume that we do not want the Syrians to act as we do. Sounds about right.
If you noticed, wars, this article says absolutely nothing about the Russians who saved Assad’s bacon and are in Syria LEGALLY. That would be the first “international norm” that should be taken into consideration. We are there ILLEGALLY because of Israel and to steal the oil.
I don’t know all of the reasons behind the decision to attempt regime change in Syria. But it seemed obvious at the time that Assad didn’t have any particular disagreement with the US, and I have always wondered what motivated Hillary to champion the rebellion there.
I feel the same way now. Did something about Assad’s rule change? Or did some bureaucrat decide that the prize was no longer worth the cost?
The presence of Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Iraq — is the strongest signal yet that the participants expect action on everyone’s part to endd Syrian conflict.
And there are no less than 7 conflict areas. Idlib, Afrin and Jarabulus-Al-Bab corridor, Turkish border to Kobane, oul fields north of Hassakah, Al-Tanf deconfliction zone and Golan Heights. A number of them are in the process of resolving. Turkish held areas – Afrin, Jarabulus-Al-Bab, Turkish-Syrian border to Kobane will very likely be turned over to Syrian control soon. The border may however be patrolled by Turkish Russian forces.
Idlib can only be resolved by HTS disappearing into sunset, when anf if their sponsors decide HTS usefulnes is over. And that can happen when other groups in Idlib disassociate from HTS. This is well already well under way. US is sending drones to assasinate leaders of defecting groups. But it is a waste of money
US controlled areas — are the real issue,. And this is what Jordan conference all about.
That’s what it should be all about….however perhaps I missed a key point somewhere.
The US has also shifted rhetoric on engagement with Iran
. . . .The Jerusalem Post
Israel has freedom to act against Iran nuclear threat – US
Every time anyone says that Israel is our [US] only friend in the Middle East, I can’t help but think that before Israel, we had no enemies in the Middle East.
2015: President Donald Trump, “We’re keeping the oil. forty-five million dollars a month.”
Pillaging, theft during wartime, illegal under USA and international law, and prohibited by the Foruth Geneva Convention.
Syria will not accept these conditions. Kicking out Iran when Iran was helping Syria against the same people that brought the “civil war” just doesn’t assure any confidence, not to mention losing sovereignty with the presence of neighboring soldiers in the country. Then again, it all comes down to how desperate Assad is right now.