Two-pronged diplomatic push sees Blinken overlaying Jordan, Turkiye, whereas Sullivan holds talks in Israel, Qatar and Egypt.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in Jordan, launching a disaster tour of the Center East following the elimination of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
The outgoing US diplomat, who is asking for an “inclusive” course of to kind Syria’s subsequent authorities that protects minorities, touched down within the Crimson Sea metropolis of Aqaba on Thursday, heading straight to a gathering with King Abdullah II earlier than a visit to Turkiye later within the day.
Blinken’s journey comes days after opposition forces launched a lightning offensive spearheaded by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a bunch previously affiliated with al-Qaeda, ending 5 many years of brutal rule by the al-Assad household.
Asserting the journey, the State Division mentioned Blinken would name for a Syria that’s not “a base of terrorism or posing a risk to its neighbours” – a nod to the issues of Israel and Turkiye.
Since al-Assad’s flight to Russia on Sunday, Israel has attacked Syria a whole lot of occasions, hitting airports, air defence amenities and different infrastructure, and deploying its army to the buffer zone alongside the occupied Golan Heights separating Syria and Israel since 1974.
Turkiye, for its half, has funded Syrian insurgent fighters – often called the Syrian Nationwide Military (SNA) – to battle the Kurdish-led, US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), pushing the group out of the northeastern metropolis of Manbij.
Ankara views the SDF, which has carved out self-ruled territory within the nation’s east, as a “terrorist” group and desires to cut back its presence close to its borders.
Blinken’s diplomatic push on Syria comes as leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) main democracies issued a press release emphasising that al-Assad needs to be held accountable for his crimes.
Shaping Biden’s legacy
In parallel with Blinken’s tour, Nationwide Safety Adviser Jake Sullivan will meet Israeli leaders in Jerusalem on Thursday after which journey to Qatar and Egypt.
Each Blinken and Sullivan will probably be attempting to make progress in direction of a deal to finish the 14-month struggle in Gaza and win the discharge of the remaining captives held there by Palestinian armed group Hamas.
The Biden administration hopes that the latest ceasefire settlement between Israel and Iran-backed Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, mixed with the elimination of Tehran ally al-Assad may assist construct momentum in direction of a Gaza deal after months of unsuccessful diplomacy.
The high-level excursions may assist form Biden’s legacy within the Center East within the final weeks of his time period earlier than former President Donald Trump returns to the White Home on January 20.
Nonetheless, it’s unclear whether or not Biden has sufficient leverage within the area to safe main offers earlier than he leaves workplace.
Hamas desires an finish to the struggle earlier than the captives are launched however Netanyahu has insisted that it reserves the best to hold out army operations. Israel additionally doesn’t need Hamas to manipulate Gaza.
Trump warned final week there can be “hell to pay” within the Center East if captives held in Gaza weren’t launched earlier than his January inauguration.
On Tuesday, White Home nationwide safety spokesperson John Kirby utilized stress for a deal, saying Hamas was “more and more remoted” and may realise the “cavalry just isn’t coming to rescue them”.
