U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and Syrian Democratic Forces commander Mazloum Abdi on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference on Saturday (February 15), calling the meeting ‘historic’.
Rubio told reporters about the meeting at a news conference in Brastislava during a visit to Slovakia.
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Rubio stressed the importance of implementing a permanent ceasefire and integration agreement in northeast Syria, and welcomed the Syrian government's commitment to fully cooperating with the United States.
The U.S. has been engaging in shuttle diplomacy to establish a lasting ceasefire and facilitate the integration of the SDF - once Washington's main partner in Syria - into the state led by its new U.S.-favoured ally, President Ahmed al-Sharaa.
Sharaa, whose forces toppled longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in late 2024, has vowed to bring all of Syria under state control - including SDF-held areas in the northeast.
