Foreign Policy: Trump’s Political Legacy in Syria

The Foreign Policy magazine published an article entitled: “In Syria, Trump Stands Against Trump,” by researcher Aaron Lund.

Aaron Lund noted in his article that US President Trump has at times appeared to adopt a pragmatic stance toward Syria, attempting to pull it back from the brink by offering support to its new leader and lifting sanctions in an unprecedented move.

Once again, Trump appears to be making decisions that strike at the very heart of the social and economic foundation upon which stability in Syria rests.

These decisions include the destruction of the US Agency for International Development, which is responsible for managing foreign aid provided to civilians.

According to Aaron Lund, the move to destroy USAID is now having strong repercussions in Syria’s humanitarian sector.

He pointed to United Nations estimates that “nearly two-thirds of Syrians will need external aid by 2025”.

Lund believes that the United States, at least under Trump so far, has rediscovered pragmatism and is trying to save a major Arab country from falling into the spiral of failed state —a move that could make the region better than its now.

For this move to succeed, according to the researcher, Trump must prioritize stability in Syria over any obstacles that might stand in the way, which could result from other policies adopted by Trump himself.

Lund concluded by saying, “Trump’s political legacy in Syria remains contingent on what he does next: whether he will give Syrians a real opportunity to transition beyond the Assad regime, or whether he will sabotage that transition”.