Why Arab dictators are rushing to rehabilitate Syria's Assad
Middle East EyeApr 12, 2023
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani traveled to Syria this past weekend. He met with Syrian Pres. Bashar al-Assad in Damascus in the first visit by an Iraqi leader since the onset of the Syrian civil war.
The two leaders reportedly discussed fighting the illicit drug trade, the return of Syrian refugees, lifting Western sanctions on Damascus, Israel’s strikes on Syrian territory, and water shortages in the Euphrates River, which runs through both countries, due to Turkish projects [upriver].
The fact that corrupt Arab leaders are now rolling out the red carpet for the Syrian regime — that bloodily crushed pro-democracy protests in 2011 and sparked a vicious civil war — is deeply disappointing and ultimately only strengthens Assad and his allies. Washington will continue to advocate for Syrians' humanitarian relief and security and remains steadfast in its belief that there can be no rapprochement with Syria without credible progress toward a political settlement to the conflict.
Syria's normalization was a long overdue step and underscores recent efforts by regional powers to pursue their own policies, independent of the US, to build peace and stability in the Middle East. This will ultimately strengthen the region's position on the world stage. Syria's reintegration into the Arab fold — rather than its exclusion as demanded by Washington — is the surest and most effective way to overcome the Syrian crisis and humanitarian hardship.