U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Jordan's King Abdullah II called for a secure and stable Syria at the start of the top U.S. diplomat's regional tour following the ouster of Bashar al-Assad in Damascus.
Blinken, who then headed to Turkey, called for an "inclusive" process to form Syria's next government that includes protections for minorities after Islamist-led rebels ended Assad's repressive rule.
At a meeting with King Abdullah in the Red Sea resort of Aqaba, Blinken, who leaves office in just over a month, pledged U.S. support for "the stability of Syria's neighbors, including Jordan, during this transition period," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said.
Blinken called for "an inclusive transition that can lead to an accountable and representative Syrian government elected by the Syrian people," Miller was quoted by AFP as saying.
He also stated that the United States hoped to ensure that Syria would not be "used as a terrorist base" and pose "a threat to its neighbors."
These are key concerns for both Turkey, which is outraged by the U.S. military alliance with Syrian Kurds, and Israel, which has launched hundreds of airstrikes on Syria since Assad's fall.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan that it was necessary to "prevent terrorist activity" from Syria.
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) which spearheaded the offensive that led to the overthrow of Assad has its roots in the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda, although it has since tried to tone down its rhetoric.
"When it comes to the many actors that have real interests in Syria, at this point it's also very important that we all try to make sure that we don't cause further conflict," Blinken said before leaving for Turkey, where he will meet with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
He argued that Israel is trying to make sure that "the military equipment that has been abandoned by the Syrian army does not fall into the wrong hands - terrorists, extremists, etc."
He also pointed out that "Turkey has a real and clear interest" in preventing escalation in Syria.
King Abdullah "reaffirmed Jordan's respect" for "the choice of the Syrian people, stressing the need to ensure Syria's security and the safety of its citizens," the palace said in a statement.
Blinken also met with Jordan's top diplomat, Ayman Safadi, and discussed "efforts to achieve a permanent ceasefire to end Israeli aggression in Gaza," the statement read.
This is Blinken's 12th visit to the Middle East since the 7 October 2023 attack.
His previous trips ended in disappointment as he tried to broker a ceasefire between U.S. ally Israel and Hamas.
While discussing Syria, King Abdullah told Blinken that "the first step to achieving comprehensive regional calm is to end the Israeli war in Gaza."
During their meeting, Blinken agreed that there is an "urgent need" to reach a cease-fire in Gaza that includes the release of hostages held by militants, Miller said.
President Joe Biden's administration is leaving office on Jan. 20.
President-elect Donald Trump has described Syria as a "mess" and said the United States should not intervene, though he has not specified USA policy since Assad's ouster.
Blinken confirmed that Washington is "working to bring home" missing U.S. citizen Travis Timmerman after Syria's new leadership announced he had been "released." | BGNES
