US confirms no intention to normalize relations with Bashar Al-Assad

WASHINGTON – United States of America (USA) states it has no plans to “normalize or improve” diplomatic relations with the government Syrian President Bashar al-Assad . The US also does not encourage other countries to do so.

The comments came in response to a question about whether Washington was encouraging and supporting rapprochement between Jordan and Syria, after Amman fully reopened its main border crossing with Syria. Also read: Turkey Wants US to Leave Iraq and Syria

The move is to boost the economies of struggling countries and strengthen a push by Arab states to reintegrate Syria, having avoided it during the civil war.

“The United States will not normalize or enhance our diplomatic relations with the Assad regime, nor do we encourage others to do so, given the atrocities committed by the Assad regime against the Syrian people,” the State Department said.

“Assad has not regained legitimacy in our eyes and there is no question of normalizing US relations with his current government.” Also read: Horrified, 4,300-Year-Old War Monument Made of Piles of Corpses

This is one of the strongest comments to date on Syria from the Joe Biden administration, whose Syria policy has largely focused on ensuring the defeat of ISIS and providing humanitarian assistance to the Syrian people. The US has been suspending its diplomatic presence in Syria since 2012.

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