Segun Atanda/
As opposition forces mount an extraordinary offensive and push toward the Syrian capital, Damascus, President-elect Donald Trump has called on the United States to steer clear of the escalating conflict, insisting that Syria holds no strategic value for America.
In a forceful post on X today, Trump dismissed the idea of U.S. involvement in the unfolding crisis, stating, “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!”
Trump’s comments come as opposition fighters execute a coordinated advance, seizing cities and closing in on the heart of Assad’s regime.
However, the former president dismissed Syria’s importance to U.S. interests, arguing, “There was never much of a benefit in Syria for Russia, other than to make Obama look really stupid.” He added that Russia, entangled in its war in Ukraine, is now unable to protect Assad’s government.
Trump’s remarks reflect his longstanding opposition to U.S. military involvement in Syria. During his presidency, he announced plans to withdraw the roughly 900 U.S. troops stationed in the country, arguing that their mission—supporting Kurdish-led forces against the remnants of Islamic State—was no longer necessary.
While he ultimately kept troops in northeastern Syria under pressure from advisers, his stance has remained consistent: the U.S. should not entangle itself in a war with no clear benefit.
Highlighting his opposition to intervention, Trump referenced the broader geopolitical dynamics of the region. “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 wrote.
He argued that the collapse of Assad’s regime might even benefit Russia, which he claimed has gained little from its Syrian involvement beyond political leverage during the Obama years.
For Trump, the solution is simple: let the conflict run its course without U.S. interference. “This is not our fight,” he emphasised.
Trump’s call for non-involvement is likely to divide opinion in Washington.
Critics of a U.S. withdrawal warn that pulling back could create a power vacuum, further destabilising the Middle East and empowering Iran and Russia.
Others, however, share Trump’s view that Syria represents a quagmire with little to no strategic payoff for the United States.
Despite the political debate, the situation on the ground in Syria remains fluid and volatile. Opposition forces, emboldened by Russia’s focus on Ukraine, are threatening to upend years of relative stalemate in the Syrian civil war. Assad’s regime, already weakened, faces the most serious challenge to its survival in years.
Yet for Trump, the message is clear: America’s role in the Middle East should be limited, and Syria’s fate is not worth U.S. blood or treasure. “Do not get involved!” he warned emphatically, reiterating his belief that the conflict should be left to “play out” without American intervention.
Whether the Biden administration will heed Trump’s advice remains to be seen, but the former president’s words have reignited a contentious debate over U.S. foreign policy and its place in one of the world’s most volatile regions.
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