Increased U.S. Concern: Washington Reviews Its Syria Policy Amid Reservations

Since President Donald Trump's return to the White House, the U.S. administration has refrained from making detailed statements regarding its Syria policy. The official stance has been limited to a statement by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who welcomed an agreement between the "Syrian Interim Government" and the Syrian Democratic Forces aimed at reordering the relationship between these forces and the existing military and political authorities in Syria.

Other statements from the administration have focused on the need to respect the rights of ethnic and religious minorities, especially following recent developments in Syria’s coastal region.

Tim Lenderking, acting Assistant Secretary of State, addressed the Middle East Institute, reiterating that the U.S. demands the Syrian government expel all foreign elements working within its security and military apparatuses, though he did not clarify how the administration would deal with this government in the future.

In the absence of a formal U.S. position, informed sources in Washington told U.S. media that White House officials have held consultations with Syrian and international figures to develop a clear policy on Syria.

One participant in these consultations revealed that Trump’s National Security Council team frames the Syrian file within the context of "counterterrorism," expressing deep doubts about Ahmad al-Shar'a, the interim Syrian president, and the composition of the security and military agencies under his leadership.

Estimates within the U.S. administration suggest that al-Shar'a, who heads the "Interim Government," was part of a network that embraces hardline ideologies, with prominent figures in his administration having ties to extremist groups. According to these estimates, Washington struggles to trust a political project run by a group with deep-rooted extremist ideology, even if it appears in a new light.

These doubts align with the Iraqi position, where the Iraqi government informed Washington that it wishes to maintain U.S. presence for counterterrorism efforts, seeing the growing influence of certain extremist groups in Syria as a major concern, making it difficult to predict what might unfold in the next two years.

On another front, U.S. sources indicate an undeclared disagreement between Washington and Ankara regarding Syria. According to leaked information, the U.S. administration believes that Turkey plays a key role in supporting al-Shar'a and his government, exerting significant influence on its policies.

Sebastian Gorka, Director of Counterterrorism Affairs at the National Security Council and a key figure in Trump’s administration, closely monitors the Syrian file. Gorka is known for his tough stance on extremist groups and is believed to influence the U.S. administration's approach to Syria, based on his counterterrorism-focused approach.

In light of these developments, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had a phone conversation with U.S. President Trump on Sunday, during which they discussed the Syrian file. Erdoğan’s office emphasized that Ankara believes "lifting sanctions on Syria could contribute to normalizing the situation and preparing conditions for the return of refugees," stressing the importance of joint action between the two countries in this regard.

Although the White House has not issued an official comment on this call, diplomatic sources suggest that Washington is adopting a cautious approach to the Syrian file, with expectations that the U.S. administration will issue a clearer stance on its strategy in Syria within the next two weeks.

One official involved in White House consultations confirmed that Syria remains a top priority for the Trump administration, given the security concerns raised by developments there, not only for the U.S. but also for its regional allies, including Israel and Iraq.