Blinken makes unannounced Iraq visit as part of Syria diplomacy push
Reuters
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken made an unannounced visit to Iraq on Friday to meet Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani for talks on the future of neighboring Syria, News.az reports citing Reuters.
Blinken is touring the region in the wake of the swift collapse of Bashar al-Assad's government in the face of an advance by Syrian opposition factions.
Assad's ouster took Washington by surprise and the outgoing administration of President Joe Biden is urging the victorious rebels, with whom it is scrambling to establish contacts, to create a government that eschews Islamist factions and is inclusive of Syria's minorities.
The State Department said Blinken in Baghdad "will underscore U.S. commitment to the U.S.-Iraq strategic partnership and to Iraq's security, stability, and sovereignty."
"He will also discuss regional security opportunities and challenges, as well as enduring U.S. support for engagement with all communities in Syria to establish an inclusive transition," it said.
Blinken's visit was not announced until after he met Sudani on Friday.
A U.S. official told Reuters that Washington sees this moment as an opportunity to further push back Iran's influence in the region.
Blinken is touring the region in the wake of the swift collapse of Bashar al-Assad's government in the face of an advance by Syrian opposition factions.
Assad's ouster took Washington by surprise and the outgoing administration of President Joe Biden is urging the victorious rebels, with whom it is scrambling to establish contacts, to create a government that eschews Islamist factions and is inclusive of Syria's minorities.
The State Department said Blinken in Baghdad "will underscore U.S. commitment to the U.S.-Iraq strategic partnership and to Iraq's security, stability, and sovereignty."
"He will also discuss regional security opportunities and challenges, as well as enduring U.S. support for engagement with all communities in Syria to establish an inclusive transition," it said.
Blinken's visit was not announced until after he met Sudani on Friday.
A U.S. official told Reuters that Washington sees this moment as an opportunity to further push back Iran's influence in the region.
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