During his first term, President Trump announced his desire to completely withdraw troops from Syria after declaring ISIS “defeated” there in 2018. The following year, he withdrew troops from northern Syria, famously provoking the regime’s harshest opposition from Republicans.
The president-elect has once again hinted at a non-interventionist approach following the recent government collapse, writing on Truth Social: “This is not our fight.”
A former Trump national security official said in an interview that withdrawing troops “will be on the table.”
But as he prepares to take office, national security-minded Republicans in Congress are urging him not to act rashly.
“I don’t think we should move too quickly. There is great resistance to U.S. involvement in any war,” said Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), who will chair the Armed Services Committee next year. Ta. “But we need to consider all the implications and not act hastily.”
Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), a member of the Intelligence Committee, expressed concern about the possible release of ISIS prisoners held in prisons guarded by the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces. He called on the next government to “think carefully and assess what our involvement should be.”
The leader of Syria’s current rebel group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), is a former al-Qaeda member who has since left the terrorist organization.
Given the instability with which Syria is moving forward under an interim prime minister, Mr. Trump will receive plenty of encouragement from Mr. Paul and others who avoid foreign engagement to leave the crisis alone.
“That means the people at home are not in favor of having troops in Syria,” the senator said.
But if President Trump reduces the U.S. presence in Syria, more interventionist Republicans will confront him directly, and few in his party will break with the president-elect. It’s not easy for members of Congress.
Sen. Mike Rounds (R.S.D.), a member of both the Defense and Intelligence committees, said he was not concerned that President Trump would make the wrong decision about sending troops to Syria. clearly understands why troops are in Syria.” and what needs to be addressed in the region,” Lowndes told Semafor.
Sen. Thom Tillis said the U.S.’s “presence[in Syria]has a broader pacifying effect and is valuable,” but the North Carolina Republican said President Trump has gone beyond ground forces. He said that he leaves room for him to assert his power through form.
“Now, will he come up with different strategies to project that power? That’s up to him,” Tillis said.
