The State Department on Thursday rejected the idea that its strategy in Syria is evolving, even though the Obama administration is now suddenly open to a military alliance with Russia, something the U.S. was not open to just months ago.
The Washington Post reported Thursday morning that the U.S. has drafted guidelines for how U.S.-Russia military cooperation might work in Syria, and Secretary of State John Kerry landed in Russia Thursday to discuss the possible agreement.
In response, critics called the proposal another sign that the U.S. is moving more and more toward Russia’s position in Syria, one that would elevate Russia’s standing in the ongoing civil war. But while the U.S. has rejected joint operations before, State Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau said nothing has changed.
“I dispute the view that our position has moved,” she said. “Our position has been consistent, which is, Assad must go. That there must be space to have discussions to create that area for a political transition to move.”
Trudeau declined to comment on proposals that haven’t been “approved or agreed to,” but indicated that the U.S. proposal is consistent with its past effort to ensure Russia’s “increased focus” on the Islamic State in Syria.
When asked directly whether entertaining an agreement with Russia is a shift, after months of rejecting such an agreement, Trudeau again rejected that idea.
“I would dispute that,” she insisted. Instead, she said the plan fits in with what the U.S. has wanted all along, which is pushing Russia to “assert its influence on the Syrian regime.”
Trudeau didn’t deny that Kerry was in Russia to discuss the U.S. proposal, and seemed to confirm the proposal by noting that there is no deal yet.
“At present, we are not conducting or coordinating military operations with Russia,” she said. “It’s not clear we’ll reach an agreement to do that.”
At the White House, spokesman Josh Earnest also refused to confirm that the U.S. is actively seeking a deal with Russia in Syria, but also didn’t deny it, and seemed to hint that it’s under discussion.
“I know there is some speculation that an agreement will be reached to do so … it’s not clear that will happen,” he said.
