Should the United States Re-establish Diplomatic Ties with Bashar al-Assad in Syria?

Allison Brown Model Arab League - Spring 2022 Issue for Discussion: Should the United States re-establish diplomatic ties with Bashar al-Assad in Syria? Discussion of the Issue: ● Two key U.S. regional allies, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain have reopened embassies in Damascus and reinstated diplomatic relations with Assad. Following suit would align with their foreign policies and ensure regional cohesion. ● Re-establishing diplomatic relations ignores the egregious human rights abuses of Assad’s regime, one that has overseen mass murder, the systematic use of chemical weapons against its own citizens, illegal-arbitrary detentions, and the forced displacement of millions of Syrians. Normalizing relations could set a dangerous precedent to international law norms and international accountability for human rights violations. ● The Department of State, as stated by Secretary Blinken, is under the impression that normalizing relations at this time are inconceivable until “there is irreversible progress toward a political solution, which we believe is necessary and vital.” Secretary Blinken’s comments are aligned with U.N. Security Council Resolution 2254. ● Various other states including (but not limited to) Algeria, Egypt, Sudan, and Tunisia have indicated a willingness to re-invite Syria to the Arab League. Additionally, Syria is scheduled to host a 2024 Arab energy conference. Normalizing relations would ease Syria’s return to the Arab League and global diplomatic relations. ● Some scholars at the Brooking Institution argue it is unrealistic to assume Assad will respond in turn to the normalization of relations and the lifting of economic sanctions. Therefore, why re-establish relations if there will be no substantive change in the regime. ● Re-establishing relations with Assad would serve as a counter to Iran regionally, as well as Russian and Chinese economic and political influence both in Syria. ● The U.S. de facto in 2021 extended sanctions relief to allow an Egyptian pipeline via Lebanon to deliver natural gas into Syria. De jure, the U.S. ought to formally remove sanctions alongside re-establishing diplomatic relations to allow for economic relief. ● U.S. (among other nations’) sanctions have undeniably failed in ending the conflict. Therefore, normalizing relations with Assad could be a beneficial move for collaboration between the Syrian government and other nations to ease proxy-conflict violence. Allison Brown Model Arab League - Spring 2022 Recommendation: The U.S. should not re-establish diplomatic ties with Bashar al-Assad at this time. Normalizing relations with Syria will result in the erasure of the Assad regime’s human rights violations, both absolving international accountability for the regime and Russian involvement alongside. Instead of normalizing the relations, the U.S. and allies in the U.N. and E.U. ought to redouble efforts to enforce sanctions and deliberate with regional allies such as the U.A.E. and Bahrain about relations. Assad’s Syria must not be allowed to enter the Assad’s regime for all the aforementioned reasons as well. In tandem, the U.S. and the international community must present an alternative path for Syria. It will be beneficial to convey to Assad and his regime that sustainable progress towards the goals outlined in U.N. Security Council Resolution 2254 can lead to sanctions relief and re-entry onto the global diplomatic stage.