Washington, DC [US]: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, on an unannounced tour to the Middle East, met Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani in Baghdad on Friday to discuss the future of Syria.
Blinken’s visit to Baghdad marked the final stop on his Middle East tour, which follows the recent toppling of President Bashar al-Assad’s government in Syria. During the meeting, Blinken emphasized the US’s commitment to supporting Iraq’s security, stability, and sovereignty.
“Iraqi Prime Minister Sudani and I met to discuss the latest developments in Syria. I underscored our commitment to Iraq’s security, stability, and sovereignty,” Blinken stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
Iraqi Prime Minister Sudani and I met to discuss the latest developments in Syria. I underscored our commitment to Iraq’s security, stability, and sovereignty. pic.twitter.com/oK7f5vgATB
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) December 13, 2024
According to Al Jazeera, Blinken and al-Sudani addressed the importance of Syria transitioning from dictatorship to democracy while ensuring inclusivity and the protection of all minorities.
“They discussed ‘the conviction of so many countries in the region and beyond that as Syria transitions from the Assad dictatorship to hopefully a democracy, it does so in a way that, of course, protects all of the minorities in Syria, that produces an inclusive, nonsectarian government,’” Blinken said. He added that Syria “should not become a platform for terrorism.”
Blinken highlighted the joint efforts of the United States and Iraq to defeat and dismantle ISIS’s territorial caliphate in Iraq and Syria.
“The United States [and] Iraq together had tremendous success in taking away the territorial caliphate that Daesh had created years ago. No one knows the importance of that more than Iraq because of the ongoing presence of ISIS [ISIL], or Daesh, in Syria, and we are determined to make sure that Daesh cannot re-emerge,” Blinken said.
Opposition fighters in Syria, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, have rejected links to extremist organizations like al-Qaeda and ISIS, affirming they “have no ambitions in Iraq,” according to Al Jazeera.
Meanwhile, Iraq has refrained from allowing Shia rebel groups to intervene in Syria, even as opposition forces advanced and seized Damascus last weekend. Baghdad expressed concerns about unrest spilling over its borders.
Syria’s newly appointed Prime Minister, Mohammed al-Bashir, has made repatriating Syrian refugees a priority. Al-Bashir aims to “bring back the millions of Syrian refugees who are abroad” as part of efforts to stabilize the country.
The Syrian government continues to face challenges, including unrest over the recent torching of the tomb of former leader Hafez al-Assad.
Blinken’s stop in Baghdad followed his visit to Turkiye, where he also emphasized countering a resurgence of ISIL. In a meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Blinken highlighted the importance of a “Syria-led and Syrian-owned” transition.
“Turkish Foreign Minister @HakanFidan and I met to discuss the situation in Syria and the importance of a Syria-led and Syrian-owned transition. We also spoke about the need to protect the rights and freedoms of Syrians, including members of minorities, during this pivotal time,” Blinken posted on X.