Consequences of American Policy in Syria

2020-01-27
Writer: Faridon Qicho
Repercussion signs, if it can properly be so called, have recently appeared in the US foreign policy, especially since Donald Trump assumed the presidency of the United States of America. As allies and enemies became observant of the future outcomes with the arrival of the “economist” to the field of politics and the new entry of Washington into the corridors of complex tensions, in the Middle East in particular.
In the world of politics, according to common standards and foundations followed in dealing with such political positions, specifically foreign policies, therefore, steps will be taken that are very delineated by state institutions. Therefore, since USA have made us accustomed to its rigid and traditional stereotypes in its policies through several presidents ruling the country. Consequently, adapting to those policies which were merely glamorous slogans, has become a commonplace for everyone, especially by observers in the Middle East. For speculation of any official situation put forward by America, became expected for anyone interested in US policy at some point before Trump.
However, the current President Donald Trump turned those scales upside down to expose, boldly, all the happenings that take place in the corridors of American politics. As a declaration of the permissible and confidential that we were not accustomed to before. Likewise, putting his country in front of international challenges, by movements that disturbed his administration and his Democratic Opponents and even the realm within the American interior. Thus, the beneficiary of this frank approach may be the enemy before the friend.
Trump seems to have made a mistake in the beginning when he announced a duration for the withdrawal from Syria. This country that is being looted on a daily basis, by the Iranians, his worst enemy in the region, that constituted confusion and fear for Israel, which is considered the spoiled child of the United States. Due to their fear of Iran's expansion in the region, along with the concerns of the Gulf countries of the threat to their homelands, as any ill-considered US withdrawal would shake the regional balance.
Hence, Trump's Democratic Opponents started playing on the contradictions of events in the Middle East. As it is known that the Syrian scene was one of the most prominent leverages for the Democrats inside and outside the US Congress. Accordingly, pressing Trump and his latest statements of withdrawing from Syria, the country where two polar conflicts of global politics raged. These factors altogether forced Trump to address the situation, to return and control it, taking advantage of the concerns of his allies and, effortlessly, seize whatever he wants. As a matter of fact, the withdrawal from the retreat issue from Syria and staying in a specific geographical area, may have long-term strategic implications.
Nevertheless, the floundering American decisions issued by Trump, affect or indeed have affected, his country's relations with strategic allies in one way or another. Thus, the scene has become more complicated in dealing with loyal allies of America, where allies of Washington in the Middle East, sensed the gravity and seriousness of this sudden shift in American policy towards them. On the contrary, the “economist” Trump was prepared for this scene, in awareness of the aspect of maintaining his country's military strength, forcing the financiers to yield to his demands and continue the alliance at the same time.
The ill-conceived policies of Trump began to take on other dimensions that would affect the prestige of the United States of America. Thus, created a kind of discontent in the American community, so that opposing voices would raise against America's foreign policies in order return to what they are accustomed to, through the historically used foundations and criteria in dealing with allies first and then enemies.
Through following the election campaigns of some Democratic candidates for the US presidential elections that will be held next November, we believe that most of the contenders for the Democratic presidential tickets are using the issue of Trump’s flawed policy in Syria as an evidence of the current president failure in managing top files in the Middle East and other areas around the world.
Returning to the Syrian situation, it becomes obvious that the scene has become extremely complex due to the volatile policies pursued by America, which made Russia the first beneficiary. Russia, which managed to gain a foothold in the Kurdish region after the United States withdrew from some Kurdish cities and towns. Moscow continued to seek control and influence in the vital Kurdish region for them, after the Turkish intervention in Tell-Abyad and Ras al-Ain. As well as, the US seems to be following another method to stay in the region and limit Russia's growing influence, averting the increased danger of Russian expansionism.
In this turning point stage, we believe that the American public opinion has stood against Trump's policies in Syria and effectively demanded the discontinuity of this flawed policy, forcing Trump to yield to the source of legislation in his country; the Congress, and decide to remain indefinitely in Syria. This was a relief for Washington's allies in the region, as well as, a relief for peoples and components of the society that was concerned about the American withdrawal and the return of the Syrian regime supported by Russia. As America's allies in the region felt reassured about the American presence in Syria, it started to rearrange the cards again.
Syria undertakes complex political confrontations after nine years from the start of a popular revolution against the ruling regime, in light of developments that may keep the current situation for longer periods of time and the areas under international powers influence, that control large areas of the country, may become a reality in the future.