US Secretary of State Antony Blinken held a conversation with his Emirati counterpart, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, on Wednesday, emphasizing the need for another extension of cross-border aid authorization in Syria. The call also touched upon the commitment of both countries to peace in Yemen, according to a readout of the call provided by State Department Spokesman Matt Miller.
Yemen was a significant topic discussed during Blinken’s recent visit to the region. Tim Lenderking, the US Special Envoy for Yemen, also recently traveled to Saudi Arabia to follow up on developments in the neighboring country.
Regarding Syria, Secretary Blinken underscored the importance of the UN Security Council authorizing UN cross-border assistance for an additional 12 months. The Secretary emphasized the need for unhindered access through all three border-crossing points currently in use. This mechanism enables vital UN aid to reach people in opposition-held northwest Syria without having to navigate areas controlled by government forces.
The current authorization, which was last renewed in January, is set to expire on July 10. The UN has also called for an extension of cross-border aid to ensure humanitarian support reaches those in need.
The UAE was among the first countries in the region to normalize ties with the Assad regime, following years of support for groups seeking to remove the Syrian president. While Washington continues to oppose normalization with the Assad regime, the Biden administration has faced criticism for its perceived lack of a clear Syria policy, which some argue encourages regional countries to restore diplomatic ties with Damascus.
Over the years, the number of UN-approved crossings has reduced from four to the current three, largely due to pressure from China and Russia, allies of the Assad regime, at the UN Security Council. Russia has consistently pushed for aid to be distributed exclusively through areas under the control of the Syrian government and has vetoed cross-border extension requests that exceeded six months.