Biden considers engaging anti-regime groups in Syria, seeks diplomacy with Türkiye

The Biden administration is exploring ways to engage with anti-regime groups that ousted the deposed dictator Bashar al-Assad while reaching out to regional partners like Türkiye to initiate informal diplomacy.

Details of Biden administration’s Syria policy

• U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller confirmed Washington has multiple communication channels with various groups, including one designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S.

• U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has been in frequent contact with regional leaders, including two recent conversations with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan over the past four days.
• Türkiye closely monitors developments in the region. FM Fidan and many Turkish state officials have stated on various platforms that Türkiye will not tolerate the activities of any terrorist organization in the region, especially the YPG/PKK.

• The U.S. has not ruled out either direct or indirect communication with HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa (Abu Mohammed al-Jolani), who was designated a terrorist by the U.S. in 2013.

What happened

The collapse of Assad’s government represents a major shift, eliminating a stronghold from which Iran and Russia exerted influence.

The U.S. President described the moment as a historic opportunity for the Syrian people but cautioned that the country faces a period of risk and uncertainty.