The U.S. State Department has voiced its opposition to reports of a potential reconciliation between Turkey and Syria, possibly mediated by Iraq. A State Department Spokesperson emphasized the U.S. stance in an email to Kurdistan 24, stating, "We do not support normalization" with the Assad regime absent significant progress toward a political solution to Syria’s ongoing conflict.

The Spokesperson highlighted past reports of reconciliation efforts that failed to materialize and reiterated the U.S. position against normalizing relations with Syria under President Bashar al-Assad. The U.S. maintains that engagement with the Syrian regime should aim to improve the humanitarian, human rights, and security situations for Syrians, in line with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254, which calls for a political settlement to Syria’s internal conflict.

In recent years, Arab countries have increasingly moved to normalize relations with Damascus. Notably, in March 2023, Saudi Arabia and Iran re-established diplomatic ties after a seven-year hiatus. This rapprochement led to the Arab League readmitting Syria in May 2023, reversing its 2011 suspension.

Despite these regional shifts, Washington remains opposed to restoring relations with Assad. Following the Arab League’s decision, a State Department Spokesperson asserted, "We do not believe Syria merits readmission into the Arab League at this time."

In January 2024, the United Arab Emirates appointed an ambassador to Damascus for the first time since 2011, and Saudi Arabia followed suit in May. Recently, regular flights between Damascus and Riyadh resumed after a thirteen-year break.

The possibility of Turkish-Syrian rapprochement has also been floated. A year ago, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed openness to meeting Assad to ease tensions. However, Assad conditioned such a meeting on the withdrawal of Turkish forces from northern Syria, a demand Erdogan deemed "unacceptable."

Earlier this month, Erdogan reiterated his willingness to meet Assad amid rising tensions following attacks on Syrian businesses in Turkey. Erdogan mentioned this proposal at the NATO summit in Washington, noting that Turkey's foreign minister had been tasked with pursuing the matter, and Iraq expressed readiness to mediate.

Despite these developments, Syria’s Foreign Ministry has reiterated that any meeting with Erdogan hinges on the withdrawal of Turkish troops from Syrian territory. This stance underscores the significant gap between the two nations' positions, making a near-term agreement unlikely.

The State Department’s cautious outlook appears justified as both Turkey and Syria remain entrenched in their respective demands, leaving the prospect of a summit meeting uncertain.