Former US Syria adviser calls recent US‑Syria relationship shift surreal

A former U.S. State Department adviser on Syria appeared on Al Jazeera’s program “This Is America” to say that diplomatic ties between Washington and Damascus have begun to improve after years of tension. The adviser, who worked on Syrian policy during the previous administration, noted that recent back‑channel communications and limited confidence‑building measures have paved the way for a modest thaw in relations, citing the reopening of certain humanitarian corridors and the resumption of limited diplomatic contacts as evidence of progress.

The interview placed the development within the broader context of shifting regional dynamics, including the Syrian government’s tentative outreach to Western partners and the United States’ renewed focus on counter‑terrorism cooperation in the Levant. While acknowledging that significant obstacles remain—such as sanctions, the status of opposition groups, and unresolved war‑crimes allegations—the adviser emphasized that the current trajectory suggests a cautious but measurable improvement, potentially setting the stage for more substantive engagement in the coming months.