- U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that reopening the Damascus embassy is being cautiously evaluated, though security threats (e.g., rogue armed factions, ISIS remnants, and pro-Assad forces) remain the primary obstacle.
- The embassy has operated from Turkey since 2012; its return hinges on improved security and the interim Syrian government’s ability to stabilize the country.
- Rubio noted the transitional government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa lacks FBI vetting and struggles to control armed groups, risking state collapse without U.S. engagement.
- The U.S. lifted sanctions to avert Syria’s collapse, but al-Sharaa's militant history and Israel's security fears (e.g., Golan Heights fortifications) complicate stabilization efforts.
- While Rubio emphasized engagement as necessary despite risks, former officials had previously ruled out reopening the embassy, highlighting the delicate balance between diplomacy and Syria's instability.
Reopening the U.S. Embassy in Damascus is an option that remains on the table, according to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Rubio – a former senator for the state of Florida – said Tuesday, May 20, that the U.S. Department of State is cautiously considering the embassy's reopening. He pointed out in a congressional hearing that security concerns are the only issues stopping American diplomats from returning to Syria.
"We don't have an embassy in Syria," Rubio told members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, his former colleagues. "It's operating out of Turkey, but we need to help them."
He reiterated that while engagement with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa's administration was necessary, security threats from rogue armed factions remain a major obstacle. These include Alawite forces loyal to ousted former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, as well as remnants of anti-Assad and Islamic State-aligned groups.
The U.S. embassy in Syria has been closed since 2012, with operations relocated to Turkey. Rubio emphasized that embassy staff in Ankara would assist Damascus in rebuilding efforts, but only if security conditions improve. This return would be contingent on the interim Syrian government's ability to stabilize a fractured nation.
Syria sanctions lifted, yet skepticism remains
According to Rubio, al-Sharaa's transitional government has not yet passed background checks by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation. "They've got a tough history," he acknowledged.
While Rubio highlighted the fact that the new Syrian government lacks the capacity to fully rein in armed factions, he argued that disengagement would guarantee failure. The stakes are high: Without stabilization, Syria risks descending into a broader civil war. "Maybe weeks, not many months, away from potential collapse," Rubio warned his colleagues.
The move follows U.S. President Donald Trump’s abrupt lifting of sanctions on Syria – a decision aimed at preventing the country's collapse. The sanctions relief, including waivers under the Caesar Act, is intended to facilitate foreign investment and unify Syria's fractured military. It nevertheless drew scrutiny given Sharaa's militant past and Syria's volatile landscape.
Israel, a key U.S. ally, remains a critical factor. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reinforced the Golan Heights – occupied since 1967 – fearing spillover violence. While Sharaa's government has pledged not to threaten Israel, skepticism lingers. (Related: Israel attacks Iranian embassy in Syria to provoke Iran, rope U.S. into WWIII.)
Rubio's testimony before the Senate came as a surprise development. In December 2024, former State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters that there were no plans to reopen the embassy following its 2012 closure. His comments at the time followed Assad's ouster and subsequent escape to Russia.
"Should we see a process that follows those principles, we are prepared to recognize a Syrian government that does so," Miller said. "And of course ... the opening of an embassy is the type of step that follows such recognition."
For now, the path forward remains fraught, balancing cautious optimism with the scars of Syria's brutal conflict. As Rubio noted, engagement is a gamble – but inaction could prove costlier.
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Watch U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterating that Washington is working for a "peaceful, stable Syria" in this clip.
This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.
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