Donald Trump, the President-elect of the United States, has issued a dramatic call for America to steer clear of the escalating conflict in Syria.
Trump made his position clear in a statement shared on his verified X account on Saturday, where he highlighted the unprecedented advances made by opposition fighters in the war-torn country.
“Opposition fighters in Syria, in an unprecedented move, have totally taken over numerous cities, in a highly coordinated offensive, and are now on the outskirts of Damascus, obviously preparing to make a very big move toward taking out Assad,” Trump declared.
The situation in Syria has reached a boiling point, with opposition forces reportedly pushing closer to the capital, Damascus, in a bid to oust President Bashar al-Assad.
Trump’s remarks came amid reports of a weakened Russian presence in Syria due to their ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
“Russia, because they are so tied up in Ukraine, and with the loss there of over 600,000 soldiers, seems incapable of stopping this literal march through Syria, a country they have protected for years,” he said.
The President-elect seized the opportunity to criticise former President Barack Obama’s handling of the Syrian crisis.
“This is where former President Obama refused to honour his commitment of protecting the RED LINE IN THE SAND, and all hell broke out, with Russia stepping in,” Trump asserted.
The “red line” reference harks back to Obama’s warning in 2012 about the use of chemical weapons by Assad’s regime, a pledge critics say was not upheld.
Russia’s involvement in Syria began in 2015 when Moscow launched a military intervention to support Assad’s government against opposition forces.
Trump suggested that both Assad and Russian influence in Syria could be nearing an end, which he implied might be a positive outcome.
“But now they are, like possibly Assad himself, being forced out, and it may actually be the best thing that can happen to them,” he remarked.
Trump’s comments signal a stark shift in America’s potential policy on Syria under his leadership.
He made it clear that the U.S. has no business intervening in what he described as a chaotic and hostile environment.
“There was never much of a benefit in Syria for Russia, other than to make Obama look really stupid,” Trump quipped, in his characteristically blunt style.
“In any event, Syria is a mess, but is not our friend, & the United States should have nothing to do with it. This is not our fight. Let it play out. Do not get involved!” he concluded emphatically.
Trump’s firm stance reflects his long-held belief in prioritising American interests and avoiding entanglement in foreign conflicts.
His statement has already sparked widespread reactions, with some hailing his approach as pragmatic and others criticising it as isolationist.
Observers note that Trump’s focus on non-intervention aligns with his “America First” doctrine, which advocates for a reduced U.S. role in overseas conflicts.
The developments in Syria come at a critical time as Trump prepares to take office and redefine America’s foreign policy priorities.
For now, his message is clear: Syria’s fate should be left to the forces on the ground, and the U.S. should not risk getting embroiled in another Middle Eastern war.
This decisive position will likely set the tone for his administration’s handling of international conflicts.
