Stable Syria 'would be one of the most dramatic improvements in the region': US secretary of state

​​​​​​​By Yasin Gungor

ISTANBUL (AA) - US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Thursday that a peaceful and stable Syria “would be one of the most dramatic improvements in the region in a very long time,” signaling Washington’s support for the country’s new leadership under President Ahmed al-Sharaa.

"This is a historic opportunity, and if it succeeds, we'll have a dramatic transformative effect on the region," Rubio said in the southern Turkish city of Antalya.

His remarks followed US President Donald Trump’s meeting Wednesday with Sharaa in Riyadh -- an encounter that marked the highest-level US-Syria contact since the Bashar al-Assad regime was ousted in December. Trump, who earlier announced his intention to lift US sanctions on Syria, called the meeting “great.”

Rubio described the new Syrian leadership as being committed to rebuilding the country as a pluralistic society.

He noted Syria has communicated interest in "being at peace with all of their neighbors" and "driving out foreign fighters and terrorists" that would destabilize the country.

Rubio said the US wants to be "helpful" but American assistance would be conditional on Syria taking "steps forward.”

He said: "Obviously, we want to see progress made, and we'll take every step that they take and it'll be a long road."

Rubio also mentioned the possibility of one day going “to Congress and ask them to permanently remove the sanctions."