Saudi Arabia may send troops to Syria
Trump want Middle Eastern nations to stand up as the US lessens its presence there.
Saudi Arabia said it is in discussions with the United States about sending troops to Syria as the Trump administration seeks ways to stabilize the country’s northeast while winding down its own military presence. Speaking to reporters in Riyadh, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said the deliberations on what type of force needs to remain in eastern Syria and where that force would come from are “ongoing.”
“We are in discussions with the U.S. and have been since the beginning of the Syrian crisis about sending forces into Syria,” he said, adding that the offer to send troops had been made previously under the Obama administration but ultimately was not accepted.
The Trump administration has said it is trying to persuade countries in the Persian Gulf to pick up the financial and military burden of stabilization as it draws down U.S. forces. The White House reiterated Monday that President Trump still wants to see an early exit for U.S. troops from Syria after French President Emmanuel Macron suggested that American forces may remain longer-term.
But the administration also has expressed its desire to contain Iran and continue to defeat Islamic State militants. Saudi Arabia said it is in discussions with the United States about sending troops to Syria as the Trump administration seeks ways to stabilize the country’s northeast while winding down its own military presence.
Speaking to reporters in Riyadh, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said the deliberations on what type of force needs to remain in eastern Syria and where that force would come from are “ongoing.”
“We are in discussions with the U.S. and have been since the beginning of the Syrian crisis about sending forces into Syria,” he said, adding that the offer to send troops had been made previously under the Obama administration but ultimately was not accepted.
The Trump administration has said it is trying to persuade countries in the Persian Gulf to pick up the financial and military burden of stabilization as it draws down U.S. forces. The White House reiterated Monday that President Trump still wants to see an early exit for U.S. troops from Syria after French President Emmanuel Macron suggested that American forces may remain longer-term.
But the administration also has expressed its desire to contain Iran and continue to defeat Islamic State militants.