- ‘We need to, for a secure region, stabilize Syria, and through a stabilized Syria, ensure that the region stays secure,’ says former US envoy James JeffreyWASHINGTON
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s historic visit to Washington on Monday will mark a major shift in that nation’s international standing and the most significant step yet in US-Syria relations since the start of the civil war more than a decade ago.
“It is a clear message for everyone in the region that the American side is quite interested in keeping Syria stable, and that any policies to undermine the Syrian government do not have Washington's support,” Omer Ozkizilcik, a non-resident fellow at the Atlantic Council, told Anadolu.
Ozkizilcik said Syria is expected to announce its decision to join the US-led coalition against ISIS (Daesh).
“By joining the international coalition against ISIS, Syria will be represented in the coalition, and the United States of America will have a direct line of communication with the Syrian government when it comes to fighting ISIS. There is already one, but this will formalize it and make it more structural,” he said.
US Special Envoy for Syria and Ambassador to Türkiye Tom Barrack said last week in Bahrain that al-Sharaa is expected to sign a document with President Donald Trump for Syria to join the anti-ISIS coalition.
Ozkizilcik said the decision could also “put additional leverage from Damascus in negotiations with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF),” referring to talks to integrate the SDF, which is dominated by the YPG, the Syrian branch of the PKK terrorist group.
On March 10, the Syrian presidency announced an agreement to integrate the SDF into state institutions, stressing the country’s territorial integrity and rejecting any separatist agenda.
‘Sanctions need to be lifted’
The White House meeting on Monday also follows Trump’s decision to lift most US sanctions on Syria after meeting with al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia in May, though sanctions imposed by the US Congress under the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act in 2019 remain in effect.
It came after Bashar al-Assad, who ruled Syria for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia on Dec. 8, 2024, ending the Baath Party’s rule since 1963.
Al-Sharaa, who led anti-regime forces that ousted Assad, was declared president for a transitional period in late January, vowing to rebuild the country.
“The future of Syria is the most important issue in the region to solidify the victory over Iran and its proxies that we have seen over the last two years,” said James Jeffrey, a former US special representative for Syria engagement during Trump’s first term.
“We need to, for a secure region, stabilize Syria, and through a stabilized Syria, ensure that the region stays secure. That is the mission of the Monday meeting,” he told Anadolu.
Jeffrey said one key expectation from the talks is the complete lifting of remaining sanctions.
“First of all, there is still one set of terrorism sanctions, a state sponsor of terrorism, that is on with Syria. I am sure President Trump, during this meeting, will lift it,” he said. “But the far more important one is the Caesar sanctions. I'm one of the authors of it. Back in 2019, it was meant to crush Assad's economy...But unfortunately, it's not serving its purpose anymore.”
He added that as long as sanctions remain even partially in place, “the private sector will not engage, and other countries will be cautious.”
“They need to be lifted cleanly and fully for this to work,” he stressed.
For Ozkizilcik, removing the sanctions is also central to rebuilding the economy.
“The Syrian government, after taking over the country, has a key wish: They want to rebuild Syria, and they want to do this with investments. They don't want Syria to be dependent on humanitarian foreign aid. And to attract investments, you need sanctions to be lifted,” he said.
- SDF’s integration into Damascus
The integration of the SDF into Syrian state institutions, which was agreed to in March, is another key to a stable Syria.
Jeffrey said progress will depend on moves from the SDF to show recognition of Damascus’ sovereignty.
“What we need to see is for it to start now. The president will push both sides,” he said. “The Syrian Democratic Forces should take the first steps with things like border controls and committing not to export oil — certain things to symbolize they recognize they're under Damascus’ sovereignty,” he said.
Ozkizilcik said the SDF has “so far been reluctant in implementing the integration process,” adding that the Syrian government's joining the anti-ISIS coalition will give them “additional leverage” in talks.
Israel’s destabilizing actions in Syria
After the fall of the Assad regime in December, Israel expanded its occupation of the Syrian Golan Heights by seizing the demilitarized buffer zone, a move that violated a 1974 disengagement agreement with Syria.
Israel also took advantage of the regime's fall to launch hundreds of strikes that targeted military sites and assets across Syria, including fighter jets, missile systems and air defense installations, according to reports.
“Israel believes in weak and unstable states. Türkiye believes in statehood, in stable, capable states and governments,” said Ozkizilcik. “We should expect that the Turkish government will continue to support the Syrian government in its attempts to be stable, functional and, most importantly, independent.”
“The United States of America, as seen in Gaza, is not supportive of the unlimited aggressions of Israel in the region,” he said. “Israel has to also understand that it's far better to have a stable government in Syria that is not a threat to Israel or any other regional state than having chaos and disorder that can be exploited by Iran or other non-state armed actors.”
