In an unannounced visit to Baghdad, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday met Iraq Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani for talks on the future of neighbouring Syria’s political transition.
Blinken emphasised the need for a non-sectarian administration following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
During his visit, Blinken also stopped at the US Embassy in Baghdad, where he discussed the situation in Syria with Sudani.
“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, produces an inclusive, non-sectarian government, and does not become, in any way, a platform for terrorism,” Blinken said at the embassy.
“No one understands the importance of that more than Iraq, given the ongoing presence of ISIS or Daesh in Syria. We are determined to ensure that Daesh cannot re-emerge,” he added, referring to the Islamic State group.
The senior US diplomat is currently touring the Middle East to forge a united stance with Arab and Turkish allies on principles that Washington hopes will shape Syria’s political transition, such as inclusivity and safeguarding minority rights.
The sudden and rapid collapse of Assad’s government, following 13 years of civil war, reportedly caught Washington by surprise. The outgoing administration of President Joe Biden is now urging victorious rebel groups to establish a government that excludes Islamist factions.
The Biden administration, along with regional and Western governments, is navigating the turbulent aftermath of the Assad family’s decades-long oppressive rule. Efforts have included engaging with Syrian rebel factions, including Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a group previously linked to al-Qaeda and classified as a terrorist organisation by the US, the European Union, Turkey, and the United Nations.
Following his Iraq visit, Blinken will travel to Jordan to attend a meeting with Arab and Turkish foreign ministers to discuss Syria further.
(With inputs from Reuters)
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