United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley said Sunday that the Trump administration does not see a solution to the conflict in Syria with President Bashar Assad in power, but suggested his removal should be the collective responsiblity of the international community — not just the duty of the U.S.
“Regime change is something that we think is going to happen,” Haley said during an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “What I think you’re seeing is, this is not about policy or not, this is about thoughts.”
Haley said seeing Assad ousted from power is among several American priorities in Syria, a list that included getting Iranian influence out of Syria and reaching a “political solution.”
“There is no political solution that any of us can see with Assad at the lead,” Haley said. “That’s something that the entire international community has decided.”
Haley highlighted Russia’s failure to enforce an agreement that should have seen the Syrian government surrender its chemical weapons stockpile in 2014.
“I think we know for a fact that Russia needs to provide some answers,” Haley said. “Either they knew that there were chemical weapons … and they just hid it from the international community, or they’re being played for fools by Assad.”
Haley questioned Russia’s reaction the chemical attack, noting the Kremlin sought to cast doubt on Assad’s role in launching sarin gas on civilians.
The UN ambassador also vowed that the administration would keep members of Congress abreast of planned developments in Syria, but declined to specify whether Trump would seek official permission from lawmakers to use military force.
