America Says It Will Not Normalize or Upgrade Diplomatic Relations with Syria

A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department said on Wednesday that the United States has no plans "to normalize or upgrade" diplomatic relations with the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and does not encourage others to do so either. The remarks came in response to questions from Reuters regarding whether Washington supports or endorses a rapprochement between Jordan and Syria, after Jordan fully reopened its main border crossing with Syria on Wednesday. This move aims to boost the economies of both countries, which are facing challenges, and to enhance efforts by Arab countries to reintegrate with Syria after it was ostracized during its civil war.