Jordan: Diplomats from the U.S., Turkey, the EU, and Arab nations convened in Jordan on Saturday to discuss Syria’s future, as global and regional powers vie for influence over the post-Assad government. The Biden administration has begun engaging with victorious rebel groups, including Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which recently captured Damascus. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited the region to rally support for Syria’s political transition, emphasizing minority rights.

Turkey, a long-time supporter of opposition forces against Assad, is expected to play a key role in the future of Damascus. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan confirmed the reopening of Turkey’s embassy in Syria, while a Turkish intelligence chief recently visited Damascus. Meanwhile, Jordan hosted the meeting in Aqaba, where Russia and Iran were notably excluded.

Blinken, U.N. Envoy Geir Pederson, and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas were joined by diplomats from Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Lebanon, Egypt, the UAE, Bahrain, and Qatar. They discussed a peaceful, inclusive political transition and the fight against terrorism. Arab diplomats sought Turkey’s assurances on supporting a unified Syria, wary of sectarian division.

Turkey and the U.S. have differing interests, especially regarding the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The SDF controls significant oil fields and is a key U.S. ally in the fight against ISIS, but Turkey views the SDF's militia, the YPG, as linked to the PKK, a Kurdish separatist group it considers a terrorist organization.