Trump’s Syria policy is at risk of unravelling

19 Jan 2026 01:38 PM

EXPERT COMMENT

Clashes between the Syrian government and the SDF and deadlocked talks with Israel threaten to drag Syria into renewed conflict. The EU should step in with a longer-term approach.

Syria is at risk of becoming US President Donald Trump’s first outright major foreign policy failure. Tensions between the Syrian government and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) – both US partners – recently broke out into open fighting in Aleppo. Meanwhile, US-brokered security talks between the Syrian government and Israel are faltering.

If the US can’t resolve these two issues, Syrians will pay the price. But while Trump’s approach to diplomacy excels at creating moments that command attention, he has rarely supported processes that turn these openings into durable agreements.

Instead, Trump would benefit from Europe’s expertise and experience to develop, oversee and implement a detailed plan. European states should step up, show the US their true value and help Syria step back from the brink of renewed conflict.

Click here to continue reading the full version of this Expert Comment on the Chatham House website.