Syria Hopes President-Elect Obama Will Improve Relations
The great deal of hyperbole surrounding the recent American elections has spread around the world. Now Syria is expressing hope that the new administration will improve relations.
The endless complexity of international relations is expressed by a Syrian official who is reported to have complained also about relations between Cuba and the United States. Obama’s administration surely will have a complicated situation on their hands, as relations between Syria and the U.S. have only worsened since the U.S. invasion of Iraq–which Obama did not support. While this may give him credibility with the Syrian government, actions taken in office will surely count for more. Also, the relationship between Syria and Cuba also shows that issues in Iraq and Syria alone will not be enough to repair the damage between the countries.
Of course, one should not forget about the talks between Israel and Syria regarding the Golan Heights and sponsorship of violence. Syria is also improving its relations with Russia. The U.S. involvement in all of these issues will be central to normalizing relations between Syria and the U.S., and there are many other matters which are currently in play or which will come up in the ensuing years.
Joshua Bark
