US Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets Jordan’s King Abdullah in the Red Sea town of Aqaba as he arrives in the region for talks on Syria following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad.
Blinken, who will head to Turkey later today, this week set out Washington’s hopes for Syria’s political transition, saying it would recognize a future Syrian government that amounts to a credible, inclusive and non-sectarian governing body.
Blinken will discuss US priorities of ensuring Syria’s chemical weapons stockpiles are secured and destroyed, facilitate the flow of humanitarian aid and that the country is not used as a “base of terrorism,” the State Department says.
Rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which the United States calls a terrorist organization, is playing a key role in Damascus after it led the ouster of Assad, ending a 50-year family dynasty in a swift takeover after 13 years of civil war.
Blinken, the top diplomat in the outgoing administration of US President Joe Biden, will also meet Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and will discuss the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon during his trip, the State Department says.
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From the Liveblog of
Thursday, December 12, 2024
