NEW YORK – In a significant declaration that signals a potential evolution in American foreign policy, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has affirmed Washington's support for a "strong, unified Syria," framing the nation's stability as essential for regional peace. The statement, delivered to ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in New York, is being interpreted as a strategic move by the U.S. to play the "Syria card" in its wider geopolitical confrontation with Iran and other regional powers.
Meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on Friday, Secretary Rubio told his Gulf counterparts that the United States and its allies are committed to giving Syria "every possible chance" to emerge as a cohesive state that reflects its diverse society.
"The stability of Syria is crucial for maintaining regional peace," Rubio emphasized. He warned that a fractured or failed state would inevitably be exploited, stating, "We must prevent extremists or foreign powers from using Syrian territory as a base for their destabilizing activities."
The sentiment was strongly echoed by GCC Secretary-General Jassim Mohammed Al-Budaywi, who attended the meeting. Al-Budaywi reiterated the council's firm position on Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity. He also pointedly condemned the "repeated Israeli attacks" on Syrian land, underscoring the view that "the stability of Syria is a fundamental pillar for the entire region."
Analysis: A Pragmatic Pivot in U.S. Policy
The American emphasis on a "unified Syria" centered around a government in Damascus represents a noteworthy shift from its previous posture, which was largely focused on supporting various opposition factions and maintaining a military presence in the country's northeast to counter ISIS. This new approach suggests a pragmatic recognition of the geopolitical reality: after more than a decade of civil war, Bashar al-Assad's government, backed by Russia and Iran, remains in control of the country's core.
By signaling support for a centralized state, Washington appears to be pivoting from a policy of regime change to one of influence and containment. Analysts suggest the U.S. is now positioning itself to engage with the Syrian state as a key player on the regional chessboard.
The 'Syria Card': Leveraging Damascus Against Tehran
This policy evolution is widely seen as the deployment of the "Syria card" in the long-running U.S.-Iran rivalry. For years, the power vacuum in a fragmented Syria allowed Iran to deeply entrench its military presence and that of its proxies, such as Hezbollah, creating a "land bridge" to Lebanon and a direct threat to Israel.
The new U.S. strategy appears to be based on the calculation that a stable, internationally-engaged Syrian government might, over time, have the incentive and leverage to limit Iran's military footprint on its soil. By dealing with Damascus, Washington gains a new channel of influence, not to support the Assad regime itself, but to pressure it to act in its own sovereign interests, which may not always align with Tehran's expansive regional ambitions.
This approach allows Washington to simultaneously exert influence over the future of Syria while also managing and potentially rolling back the influence of its primary adversary, Iran, through diplomatic and political means rather than direct military confrontation. The public backing of the GCC, which has been normalizing its own relations with Damascus, gives this new American strategy significant regional weight.
