In comments to Newsweek, Syria’s permanent mission to the UN said Damascus is willing to open a dialogue and reestablish ties with the US if President Biden reverses the Syria policies of previous administrations.
Reversing those policies would mean withdrawing US troops from northeast Syria that are occupying the country’s oil fields and cutting off support for the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and other non-state actors inside Syria. Damascus is also calling for Biden to stop meddling in Syria’s internal affairs altogether, which likely means lifting crushing economic sanctions left in place by the Trump administration that are purposely impeding Syria’s reconstruction effort.
“The reason for the existing disputes with the United States of America is the policies of previous American administrations that include: interference in the Syrian internal affairs, occupation of territories in the Syrian Arab Republic, stealing its natural resources, and supporting separatist militias and armed terrorist entities in Syria,” Syria’s UN mission said.
In the event that Biden reversed these policies, the UN mission said, “Syria does not object to meaningful and purposeful communications” with the US. But there are no indications that President Biden is planning to change policy on Syria.
Not long after Biden’s inauguration, a State Department spokesman told Rudaw that the new administration will continue supporting the SDF. There are also no indications that Biden would withdraw troops from the country or lift sanctions.
Biden appointed Brett McGurk to head Middle East Policy on the National Security Council. McGurk previously served as the US envoy to the anti-ISIS coalition and resigned in 2018 when President Trump announced he was withdrawing from Syria, something he never followed through on.
Judging by articles written by McGurk after his resignation, it seems he supports what is now the status quo for US policy in Syria: maintaining a small occupation force in the northeast, supporting the SDF, and supporting Israel’s bombing campaign in Syria.
Step in the right direction providing the blockade is lifted & allow life for Yemenis citizens become a bit bearable. Al-Qaida is the ally of the Wahabi sect fed both financially & ideologically by Saudis Muftis & openly supported by the most radical religious dogmatic ideologues, uncompromising when it comes to 4-Imam Shia sect practice by Houthis of Yemen- viewed as infidel- unworthy of living. One must read the philosophy of Sheikh Abdulaziz al-Sheikh, whose ideas make Khomeini’s teaching a romantic music in comparison! Bab el Mandeb is a leverage Houthis have & can easily control (narrow opening) & deny access to the Suez Canal through the Red Sea from the Indian ocean side. That is very concerning to Saudis especially since crossing the strait of Hormuz which can easily be blockaded by IRGC Naval force, is not a comfortable passage for commercial ships conducting business with the Saudis. Also, access to the Indian Ocean is very important to Israel for trades with India Singapore, South Korea, & Japan- countries that Israel does a substantial business with. Otherwise, the route through the Africa’s southern tip would be the only option -a much longer & costlier route to the Indian Ocean!
Sanctioning Syria will make the Syrians more angry and resistant to US policies and interference. The way forward for the US is to win over the “hearts and minds” of the Syrian people and help them to rebuild their country by supplying them with the tools and means to do so. That would be a more intelligent approach.
The US cares nothing about people and will not help them. Bombing them. . .yes.
18,096 people ( civilian Syrians, killed by Russian bombers, targeting Hsopitasl, doctors and nurses,
During those three years, Russian airstrikes have killed 18,096 people, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.Sep 30, 2018
Regime change was Job-One for Hillary when she worked against Syria, and Biden is not about to change that even after the Russia-Iran alliance foiled the US takeover plans. Meanwhile China is becoming more involved, sending vaccines and pledging support.
Trump couldn’t get US troops out of Syria and
Biden is sending more in.
MIC calls the shots,
the WH is just a front.