US engages closely with Türkiye on Syria, focuses on post-Assad future
People chant slogans and wave the opposition flag during a gathering against the Syrian government in the Syria's southern city of Suwayda on December 6, 2024. (AFP Photo)
A senior U.S. official said Sunday that the United States is fully engaged with Türkiye on developments in Syria, yielding constructive results.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the focus is now on building a “new Syria” and moving away from the Assad regime, stressing the importance of collective efforts for the country’s future.
The official revealed that U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, CIA Director Bill Burns, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken have all held discussions with their Turkish counterparts, underscoring the productive nature of these talks.
Addressing the U.S. relationship with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the official said the group is expected to play a key role in Syria’s transitional process.
He highlighted that the U.S. will maintain engagement with HTS, prioritizing American interests while closely monitoring the group’s actions.
Ignoring Türkiye is ‘plain dumb’
Meanwhile, Richard Grenell, former U.S. intelligence chief under President-elect Donald Trump, took to social media on Sunday to criticize the Biden administration for overlooking its NATO ally Türkiye.
“Ignoring Türkiye, a NATO ally since 1952, is just plain dumb,” Grenell said in his post, highlighting the importance of maintaining strong ties with Türkiye.
He added that Türkiye’s Foreign Minister has been clear about protecting Christians and other minorities, saying, “Türkiye’s Foreign Minister has been clear about protecting Christians and other minorities.”
‘Moment of historic opportunity,’ says Biden
U.S. President Joe Biden on Sunday called the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime a “moment of historic opportunity” for Syria.
“The fall of the regime is a fundamental act of justice,” Biden said in a statement from the White House.
“It’s a moment of historic opportunity for the long-suffering people of Syria,” he underlined.
“At long last, the Assad regime has fallen. This regime brutalized, tortured, and killed literally hundreds of thousands of innocent Syrians. The regime’s fall is a fundamental act of justice,” he added.
