Jakarta – United States (US) President Joe Biden stated that his party is ready to be involved in the transition of the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who has fled to Russia due to the uprising in Syria. Biden’s attitude is in contrast to US President-elect Donald Trump.
It is known that Joe Biden’s term of office will end in January and be replaced by Trump, who was elected in the 2024 US elections. Trump will soon be sworn in as President on January 20, 2025.
Trump through his X account @donaldtrump, stated that the US would not interfere in Syria and let it be Syria’s business. Initially, Trump highlighted the Syrian opposition movement that now controls cities in Syria and is coordinated.
“Opposition fighters in Syria, in an unprecedented movement, have taken control of many cities, in a very coordinated attack, and are now on the outskirts of Damascus, clearly preparing to make a very large movement to get rid of Assad,” Trump said in his X account as seen on Monday (9/12/2024).
“Russia, because they are so tied up in Ukraine, and with the loss of more than 600,000 troops there, seems unable to stop this literal march through Syria, a country they have protected for years,” he added.
Meanwhile, Russia is also currently experiencing challenges in the midst of a war with Ukraine. Trump assessed that the events in Syria were due to former US President Barack Obama who refused to honor his commitment to protect the red line in the sand.
“This is where former President Obama refused to honor his commitment to protect the ‘red line in the sand’, and all the chaos happened, with Russian interference. But now they, like perhaps Assad himself, are being forced out, and that’s probably the best thing that could happen to them. There was never much benefit in Syria for Russia, other than making Obama look very stupid,” he said.
Trump said that Syria was in a chaotic condition. However, according to Trump, the US should not join this so he refused to get involved with the matter.
“However, Syria is a mess, but it is not our friend, and the United States should not join this. This is not our fight. Let it go on. Don’t get involved!” Trump said.
Biden Ready to Engage in Syrian Regime Transition
Previously, US President Joe Biden held Syrian President Bashar al-Assad responsible for the uprising in Syria. Biden said the fall of the Assad regime was justice for the Syrian people.
“The fall of the regime is a fundamental act of justice. This is a historic moment for the long-suffering Syrian people,” Biden said as quoted by AFP on Monday (9/12).
Biden also responded to Assad’s flight to Moscow, Russia. Biden said “Assad must be held accountable”.
He said the US would engage with all groups in Syria. He claimed his country’s goal was to make Syria independent with a new constitution.
“We will engage with all groups in Syria, including in a UN-led process, to make a transition from the Assad government to an independent and sovereign ‘Syria’ with a new constitution,” he said.
Furthermore, Biden highlighted a number of groups in the rebellion in Syria. He said the US would keep a close eye on some of the rebels.
“Some of the rebel groups that toppled Assad have a terrible record of terrorism and human rights abuses,” Biden said.
The United States has taken note of recent statements issued by the rebels declaring that they have moderated, he said, but warned: “We will judge not only their words, but also their actions”.
Biden said Washington was of the view that the IS extremist group “will try to take advantage of any vacuum to re-establish” itself in Syria.
“We will not allow that to happen,” he said, adding that US forces on Sunday carried out strikes against IS in Syria.
