“The US position under President Joe Biden reflects a tricky, gnarly, complex challenge. The Biden administration perhaps has made a calculus that, 'Okay, the region is moving forward with normalisation. Perhaps the issue then is to get something for it, get concessions'. But without accountability for Syrian government abuses, Washington will not normalise its relations with Damascus or ease its heavy sanctions, including the blocking of foreign reconstruction funds. Frankly, given Assad and given his role and given the lack of accountability, it's very hard - if not impossible - to imagine that the US is going to shift its position with respect to either normalising ties or yielding on the issues around reconstruction, lifting sanctions.”
19 May 2023
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