The United States will not normalize or upgrade diplomatic relations with Syria | Political News

Washington suspended its diplomatic presence in Syria in 2012 and later imposed sanctions on President Assad’s government.

A State Department spokesperson said that the United States has no plans to “normalize or upgrade” diplomatic relations with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government, nor encourage others to do so.

These comments were made in response to Reuters’ question on whether Washington encourages and supports Jordan and Syria’s reconciliation after the full reopening of their main border crossings with Syria on Wednesday.

This is to boost the troubled economies of these countries and strengthen Arab countries’ efforts to reintegrate into Syria after avoiding Syria during the civil war.

A spokesperson for the US State Department said in an email on Wednesday: “In view of the atrocities committed by the Assad regime against the Syrian people, the United States will not normalize or escalate our diplomatic relations with the Assad regime, and we will not encourage others. this way.”

“Assad has no legitimacy in our eyes. At this time, there is no doubt about the normalization of relations between the United States and his government.”

This is one of the strongest comments made by the Biden administration on Syria so far. Its Syria policy is mainly focused on ensuring the permanent defeat of the Islamic State (ISIS) organization and providing humanitarian assistance to the Syrian people.

Since 2012, the United States has not established a diplomatic agency in Syria.

Comprehensive sanctions

In June last year, the Trump administration imposed the most comprehensive sanctions in its history—to crack down on Assad and his inner circle, to stifle his government’s revenues, to force him to return to UN-led negotiations, and to facilitate the end of the country’s 10-year history. war.

Arab countries cut off relations with Syria during the civil war. The United Nations said that the civil war killed at least 350,000 people. Arab countries allied with the United States, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, supported opposition groups fighting Assad.

The UAE and Syria resumed diplomatic relations in 2018.

Egyptian and Syrian foreign ministers met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on Friday, and Egyptian media said it was the first meeting at this level in about 10 years.

Earlier this month, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov shook hands with Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad during the 76th UN General Assembly in New York City [Russian Foreign Ministry/Handout via Reuters]

Officials in Jordan and Lebanon, US allies, urged Washington to ease sanctions on Syria.

“We believe that the stability of Syria and the larger region can only be achieved through a political process that represents the will of all Syrians. We are committed to working with our allies, partners and the United Nations to ensure that a lasting political solution remains within reach. “The State Council spokesperson said.

Assad has regained most of Syria, but there are still some areas beyond his control. Turkish troops are deployed in most of the northern and northwestern part of the last rebel stronghold, while US troops are stationed in the eastern and northeastern parts of Kurdish-controlled.