The visit and the criticism against him: The
United States last night (Tuesday) harshly criticized the United Arab Emirates, following Foreign Minister Abdullah Ben-Zeid's visit to Damascus and his meeting with dictator Bashar Assad.
"Our administration will not express any support for the attempt to normalize or restore relations with Bashar Assad, who is a murderous dictator," said Secretary of State Secretary Ned Price.
"We call on the countries of the region to take seriously the atrocities perpetrated by this regime, which Bashar Assad himself has led against the Syrian people over the past decade, as well as the regime's efforts to find humanitarian and security assistance entering the country."
Price added that "the United States will not normalize or upgrade diplomatic relations with Syria, nor do we support the activities of other countries to normalize or upgrade their relations - given the crimes committed by this regime against its own citizens."
Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zaid's visit, which took place three years after the UAE reopened its embassy in Damascus, is another attempt by Abu Dhabi to "draw the line" with Washington in general and with the Biden administration in particular.
The emirates, which want to keep Damascus out of Tehran's hands, estimate that they can keep Assad away from the Iranians - and at the Arab League conference in Algeria, to be held in March, they are expected to support Syria's return to the organization at the end of a decade.
Bashar Assad and Abdullah Ben Zeid, yesterday, Photo: IPI
However, this is a completely opposite view of Washington's regarding the Assad regime.
As early as June last year, former President Donald Trump threatened Abu Dhabi that if they continued their ongoing activities to normalize relations with Damascus - he might impose sanctions against them under the "Caesar Act" which deals with sanctions against the Assad regime.
However, since Biden's entry into the White House, Jordan and Egypt have joined the trend of normalization with the Assad regime.
The American criticism of the US Secretary of State's visit to Damascus does not come from the democratic administration alone.
The Republican senator from Idaho, Jim Rich, was no less assertive against Abu Dhabi.
"It is shameful that a growing number of countries are willing to normalize their relations with Assad," he said.
"The UAE and other countries that ignore the ongoing violence against Syrian citizens are required to implement Security Council resolutions before taking action to normalize relations with Syria."
