Marco Rubio on US Policy Towards Syria and Regional Security

US Policy on Syrian Embassy Operations

• 📌 The US is currently not looking to resume embassy operations in Syria, citing safety concerns in Damascus compared to Washington.
• 🎯 The primary goal is to support the formation of a national Syrian government that represents all elements of Syrian society and ensures their safety.

Goals for a New Syrian Government

• 🎯 The desired Syrian government aims to prevent the country from becoming a base of operations for Iran, ISIS, or other militant groups.
• 🚀 It should function as a country, not a launching pad for attacks against its neighbors.

Consequences of Failure in Syria

• ⚠️ If the current project fails, Syria risks falling into total civil war.
• 🎪 This could transform Syria into an ungoverned space and a playground for dangerous elements like ISIS, Hezbollah, Iran, and al-Qaeda.
• 📈 A failure would likely lead to a new regional war and strengthen groups like Hezbollah.

Challenges and Considerations

• ⚠️ The task of establishing a stable Syrian government is difficult, involving foreign fighters and individuals with radical views not fully controlled by Damascus.
• 🧩 Issues with the Kurds in the north and Bedouin and Druze populations in the south must be addressed.
• 🛡️ Israel's security concerns regarding its own borders also need to be balanced within any solution.
• ⚖️ The US hopes for the success of the current Syrian government project, acknowledging it's the best option available to prevent a worse outcome.