Washington: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized on Tuesday that the United States is committed to supporting the new Syrian government to avert the possibility of a civil war and subsequent regional instability. Rubio highlighted these concerns during his address to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
According to Anadolu Agency, Rubio stressed the importance of aiding the Syrian government to ensure its success, warning that failure could lead to the country descending into a full-scale civil war and chaos, posing a threat to the stability of the entire region. Rubio assessed that the transitional authority in Syria is facing significant challenges and might collapse within weeks, leading to the country potentially splitting up.
US officials, including embassy staff in Trkiye, are working in coordination with local partners to determine Syria's needs, particularly in the area of law enforcement aid. Rubio noted that instability in Syria directly affects the stability of the broader region.
Rubio also suggested that lifting sanctions could enable neighboring countries to support the Syrian government in establishing governance mechanisms. This follows US President Donald Trump's announcement last week at the Saudi-US Investment Forum 2025 in Riyadh regarding his intention to lift sanctions on Syria.
Addressing concerns about the Syrian government's fight against terrorism, specifically ISIS, Rubio indicated that the terror group perceives the new administration as a significant threat. He noted that the primary issue is not willingness but the new administration's limited capacity to combat ISIS effectively. Rubio warned that each day the authorities fail to maintain control or provide essential services is an opportunity for ISIS to regroup and strengthen.
The US plans to maintain its presence in Syria for a temporary period to prevent ISIS from expanding its influence. Rubio expressed optimism regarding Syria's unifying national identity, which has historically seen different ethnic and religious groups coexist under a shared identity.
Rubio's statement comes in the wake of recent diplomatic efforts, including President Trump's meeting with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia and Rubio's own discussions with Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani in Trkiye. Al-Sharaa, who assumed the presidency for a transitional period earlier this year, signed a constitutional declaration in March outlining a five-year transitional phase for the country. This follows the departure of Bashar Assad, who fled to Russia in December, marking the end of the Baath Party's long-standing regime.