For the last 40 years, the US -Syrian relations have been subject to more confrontation that co-operation. Differences between the two countries started to arise after the establishment of Israel. Syria viewed the US as an adversary of the Arab people due to Washington's support for Israel whilst Syria firmly viewed itself as a champion of the Palestinian cause. Furthermore Syria's and specifically Assad's Socialist Baathist political ideology steered Syria more towards the the USSR. The strength of the relationship between Syria and the USSR was supplemented by their common view that America and Israel are capitalist colonialists who aim to exploit the misfortunes of developing nations, including that of Palestine and Syria.
Syria's animosity towards the US increased after occupation of the Syrian Golan heights by Israel during the Six day war of 1967. The Syrians called for the return of their territory time and again, however they found that America almost always backed Israel politically in the UN. America's support and use of veto power in support of Israel in the UN made Syria furious for it saw as hypocritical - one sided US support for an occupation force (ie. Israel).
Syria's accusations of one sided American policy in the region reached their hiatus during the1973 Yom Kippur war, when America started a massive weapons airlift to Israel. The airlift was crucial in turning the war around to Israel's favour after a bad start for the Israeli Army which saw them lose the Sinai and the Golan to Syria and Egypt at the onset of the war. After the end of the Yom Kippur war which resulted in Syria being unable to recapture the Golan heights, Syria saw itself being besieged again by America's increasing influence in the region. Examples included the Egypt - Israel Camp David treaty which was backed and sponsored the US. Syria saw itself deliberately left out by the US as no pressure was placed on Israel to return Syrian territory as part of a peace deal. Furthermore Syria also saw America's role in the Lebanese civil war as a conspiracy to reduce Syria's influence in its backyard. Syria's suspicion and hostile attitude towards the the US were again strengthened after America's sponsoring of the Israeli-Palestinian and Israeli-Jordanian peace treaties in 1993 and 1994 respectively. Both agreements left Syria out in the cold as again America was seen as unwilling to exert pressure on Israel to give up the Golan heights.
Recent examples of America's hostility towards Syria as viewed in Damascus are the US economic sanctions placed against Syria, and the second invasion of Iraq in 2003 which cost Syria its ally Saddam Hussein, and loss of Billions of US Dollars in trade with Iraq. Furthermore America's hostility towards Syria has been recently felt again in Damascus through America's sponsorship of UN resolution 1559. This resolution which was passed in the UN calls for removal of Syria's military presence and that of its allies in Lebanon. Syrian politicians view such a move as an American plan which aims to eliminate Syria's political and economic interests in Lebanon.
The Syrian government itself also did much to raise America's ire. Syria was a firm supporter of the USSR. It received massive economic and financial aid from Moscow and used it to threaten America's allies in the region and this did not only include Israel. For example Syria invaded Jordan in September 1970 as part of its support for the the PLO who was fighting the Jordanian Army. The US viewed the attack as a Soviet sponsored operation carried out by Syria against Jordan which is a US friendly regime. Furthermore Syria was openly hostile to other US friendly regimes such as Saudi Arabia. Matters for the US came to ahead during Lebanon's civil war when American forces who were backing the Christian Lebanese found themselves in direct military confrontation with Syria who was backing the PLO and the Muslim Lebanese forces. This engagement left dead and wounded on both sides.
After the open military engagements in Lebanon, the US and Syria returned to their indirect confrontation methods. The US saw Syria's hand in the death of the 240 Marines in 1984 in Beirut through Syria's co-operation with Hezbollah who perpetrated the attack. The deaths were followed by killing and kidnapping of numerous US citizens (and one CIA official) in Lebanon for which the US accused Syria of complicity. Syria was also accused of supporting Hezbollah and Hamas's attacks against America's ally Israel. In fact Syria was placed on the list of "states sponsoring terror" because America saw Damascus as an obstacle in the Israeli - Palestinian peace process owing to its support of extremist groups. Syria's anti - US policies in the region were once again illustrated after Syria was accused of assisting Saddam Hussein to break the UN economic embargo imposed against his regime. It is estimated that Syria earned Billions of US Dollars by allowing Saddam to sell oil and other products through Syria's ports. However the culmination of Syria's antagonism to the US surfaced after the US invasion of Iraq in 2003. Syria has been named as one of the main sponsors of weapons, training and access to Iraq for majority of anti - US insurgents. This has been confirmed recently in fightings in Fallujah where US forces found weapons and documents on injured fighters which connect them to Syria.
Although marred by major differences, the US - Syrian relationship has also enjoyed from limited periods of co-operation. The most notable example being Syria's participation in the First Gulf war against Iraq in 1991, where Syrian soldiers fought side by side with American forces against Saddam's Army. Participation of Syria was useful for America's plans to legitimise the war in the Arab world by allowing a major Arab Army to participate in the campaign. Syria also enjoyed the fruits of its participation in the conflict. This included loans for its economy and funds for the purchase of new Airbus aircraft and construction of power plants from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Today Kuwait is one of the biggest foreign investors in Syria and one of the reasons is Syria's participation in the war to liberate it in 1991. Another notable example of co-operation between US and Syria was Syria's participation as an aid donor in NATO's war against Milosovich's Serbia in 1999. Syria donated aid and according to unconfirmed reports training to some of the Kosovan fighters with America's full knowledge.
Two factors will be crucial for the longterm improvement of US - Syria relations. They are:
1) the return of the Golan heights to Syria and
2) Syria's cessation of support for militant anti - Israeli and anti - US groups.
Until they both happen; the future for the US - Syrian relation will look similar to its past - more conflict than co-operation.
Trade Relations
Total US exports to Syria for the year 2003 were : USD $214 Million
Main US export products to Syria are:
cereals, machinery, tobacco, vehicles (non-rail), man made staple fibers, man made filament, electrical machinery and wood pulp.
Total Syrian exports to US for the year 2003 were: USD $246 Million
Main Syrian export products to US are:
oil, art/antiques, knit apparel, woven apparel, spices, coffee, tea, and textile articles. By: Meir Javedanfar- www.meepas.com Back |
