Jeffrey rules out US forces withdrawal from Syria
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The US is currently in a “stronger position” to negotiate with Russia on Syria, while it is not possible for the US forces to leave Syria, at least under the Biden administration, James Jeffrey, US Special Representative for Syria Engagement, said on Wednesday.
Jeffrey attributed the strong US position to several factors, including that all the tools of pressure are still in the hands of the administration of President Joe Biden.
In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Jeffrey added, “Russia is mired in the Syrian quagmire.”
But Jeffrey urged Biden administration to coordinate with its Arab and regional allies and the UN during the dialogue with Russia, to ensure its success in achieving its declared goals.
“Biden administration thinks Syria is unimportant, or they want to do something that no one wants to know,” he noted.
Jeffery pointed out that US position is unclear regarding normalization with Assad regime “I think that the position of the administration is not clear in this regard.”
“Biden’s policy lacks attention and focus although the main goals in Syria are still the same, such as the international resolution 2254, the defeat of ISIS, the return of refugees and accountability, maintaining the ceasefire, and expelling the Iranians.”
“I spoke to everyone and noticed that no senior official in Congress or our allies in the Arab world or the Europeans, the United Nations, the Turks, the Israelis and the Syrian Democratic Forces, do not know what our real policy is,” Jeffrey indicated.
He added that all the tools are there: “our forces on the ground, support (for bombing from) Israel, Turkey in Idlib, the Syrian Democratic Forces, support for the United Nations, humanitarian aid, the fight against ISIS, sanctions, isolation, reconstruction and investment. We have all the tools. During the time of the Trump and Obama administrations, we tried, and we clearly told the Russians, the Iranians, and the Assad regime that these tools will remain in place, and Syria will not be normal under Assad’s rule unless our concerns and those of our Arab, European, Turkish, Israeli, SDF and Syrian allies are addressed.”
The former US representative indicated that the situation is different. “Our forces are in Syria. It is unlikely that the Biden administration will withdraw our forces after our withdrawal from Afghanistan. We will stay in Syria during Biden’s term at least. But the Russians would not think of negotiating with us like that. We must act with our allies to get the Russians to act.”