Vance Aligns With Trump On Syria Policy Amidst Political Uncertainty

Amid the collapse of Syria’s regime, JD Vance has aligned with Donald Trump’s non-intervention strategy, emphasizing Syria is not within America’s purview.

At a Glance

Trump advocates non-involvement in Syria, emphasizing it’s not the U.S.’s battle.
Vance expresses skepticism about rebels, noting past Christian persecution.
Syrian rebels have captured significant territory, approaching Damascus.
The Biden administration also expresses no intention to intervene.

Trump’s Stance on Non-Involvement

President-elect Trump has reiterated via social media that the United States should not entangle itself in Syria’s civil war. He recently posted, “THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT,” emphasizing that the conflict does not fall within America’s interests. This comes amid rising tensions and fear of further destabilization in the region.

Trump also criticized Assad and repeated that the Syrian leader should not anticipate U.S. support. With his backers, including Russia and Iran, currently distracted by other military engagements, Assad’s vulnerability grows more apparent daily.

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. Russia, because they are so tied up…

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 7, 2024

Vance Backs Non-Intervention

JD Vance stands firm with Trump, expressing skepticism regarding the Syrian rebels’ leadership and goals. “As President Trump said, this is not our fight and we should stay out of it,” Vance stated. He highlighted concerns about possible links between rebel factions and terrorist organizations, urging caution.

The Biden administration echoes this sentiment with National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan’s assertion that the United States remains unlikely to intervene militarily in Syria.

As President Trump said, this is not our fight and we should stay out of it.

Aside from that, opinions like the below make me nervous. The last time this guy was celebrating events in Syria we saw the mass slaughter of Christians and a refugee crisis that destabilized Europe. https://t.co/rUsbudKtZP

— JD Vance (@JDVance) December 8, 2024

Risks and Future Challenges

The overthrow of Assad signifies the end of a five-decade rule by his family, posing new challenges for the country ravaged by years of civil war

“No one has the right to erase another group. These sects have coexisted in this region for hundreds of years, and no one has the right to eliminate them,” said Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, leader of HTS.

Despite the rebels’ gains and Assad’s reported flight, Vance and Trump remain cautious of immediate alignment given the rebel groups’ complicated histories, emphasizing the prospect of unforeseen consequences if undue haste guides foreign policy decisions.